Patent ID: 6697365
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of managing a broadcast over a global packet-switched network of a data stream having a bandwidth, the data stream represented as a plurality of data packets, the data stream originating from at least one originator, and received by a plurality of listeners, wherein each listener converts the data stream into a human perceivable form, and at least one listener is capable of deriving a packet from at least one received packet, and sending a derived packet using a unicast protocol over the global packet-switched network to at least one other listener; comprising the steps of:a) maintaining a pattern of interconnections between a group of listeners, wherein the pattern is maintained so that at least one listener does not receive any packets directly from the originator; b) establishing a flow of data from an originator to the group of listeners by the steps of: i) instructing the originator to send packets to at least one selected listener; ii) instructing at least one selected listener to derive packets from at least one received packet and to send derived packets to at least one other listener in the group wherein each listener converts the data stream into a human perceivable form; and iii) repeating step ii until listeners are instructed to derive and send packets so that packets sufficient to reconstruct the data stream will be sent to all listeners in accordance with the pattern; so that each listener receives the broadcast substantially concurrently as it is transmitted by the originator.