Patent ID: 7143132
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a network that includes a server maintaining first and second communication channels with each of multiple client devices, a method for cyclically transferring file data from the server to the multiple client devices such that the client devices can determine the completeness of received file data, the method comprising: creating a set of metadata specifying properties associated with the file data, wherein the properties include at least error correction information for the file data, and wherein the error correction information is configured for use by a client device, after transmission of the file data from the server, to determine the completeness of the file data; transmitting the set of metadata over the network from the server to the multiple client devices in cycles via the first communication channel, each cycle comprising a full transmission of the set of metadata and being repeated periodically while and until it is determined that no client device of the multiple client devices has not yet received in full the set of metadata; and transmitting the file data over the network from the server to the multiple client devices in cycles via the second communication channel, each cycle comprising a full transmission of the file data and being repeated periodically while and until it is determined that no client device of the multiple client devices has not yet received in full the file data, and such that the error correction information for determining completeness of the transmitted file data after transmission is transmitted independent of the file data.