Patent ID: 7145870

Claim:
A communication network system based on the hub-and-spoke architecture, comprising: a content server coupled with a local center; a plurality of xDSL links, each having a hub end and a spoke end, wherein each of the hub ends is coupled with the local center, and each of the spoke ends is connected with one of a plurality of end-user receiving locations; a local stream manager located at the local center and detect data rates on said links; and an overflow data link connecting a first receiving location to a second receiving location which is at a separate location from the first receiving location, wherein the local stream manager further (a) determine if a data rate on the link connecting the local center to the first receiving location exceeds a threshold, (b) redirect packets destined for the first receiving location to the link connecting the local center to the second receiving location when said threshold is exceeded, and (c ) initiate delivery of the redirected packets via the overflow data link from the second receiving location to the first receiving location, wherein the local stream manager is further identifies a receiving location that has available bandwidth based upon direct detection of load on the link connecting the receiving location and the local center.