Patent ID: 8601132
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method implemented in a content on demand server for transmitting an audiovisual document to a first receiver and a second receiver, wherein the method comprises the following steps: receiving a request for transmission of the audiovisual document from the first receiver; establishing a unicast link between the content on demand server and the first receiver; initiating transmission of the audiovisual document to the first receiver via the unicast link; receiving a request for transmission of the audiovisual document from the second receiver during transmission of the audiovisual document to the first receiver via the unicast link; transmitting to the second receiver a proposal for transmission of a truncated version of the audiovisual document for a price value less than a price value proposed to the first receiver for the transmission of the audiovisual document wherein the truncated version of the audiovisual document is that part of the audiovisual document that has not yet been transmitted to the first receiver, wherein the price value proposed to the second receiver is dependent on an amount of traffic on a network used for transmission of the audiovisual document or is proportional to a duration of the truncated version of the audiovisual document; receiving a request from the second receiver for transmission of the truncated version of the audiovisual document; establishing a multicast link between the content on demand server and the first receiver and the second receiver; and terminating the unicast link between the content on demand server and the first receiver.