Patent ID: 6269080
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of providing reliable data transfer in a communications network, said communications network coupling a plurality of receiving clients and a file server, wherein an IP address including a plurality of bytes identifies each receiving client of said plurality of receiving clients, the method comprising the steps of:(a) selecting an active receiver from said plurality of receiving clients;(b) transmitting a data file from said file server to said plurality of receiving clients, wherein said data file consists of a plurality of data segments;(c) if said active receiver detects the absence of at least one data segment of said plurality of data segments after the completion of said transmitting step, said active receiver exclusively requests retransmission of data segments not received by said active receiver, wherein said active receiver communicates to said file server by use of a retransmission request;(d) responsive to said retransmission request from said active receiver, re-transmitting said data segments from said file server to said active receiver, wherein said re-transmitting step sends said data segments indicated by said retransmission request;(e) determining if at least one receiving client of said plurality of receiving clients detects the absence of at least one data segment of said plurality of data segments;(f) if at least one receiving client of said plurality of receiving clients detects the absence of at least one data segment of said plurality of data segments, reselecting a succeeding active receiver from said plurality of receiving clients;(g) determining if said active receiver detects the absence of at least one data segment of said plurality of data segments; and(h) if said succeeding active receiver detects the absence of at least one data segment of said plurality of data segments, repeating said requesting step (c) through said reselecting step (f).