Patent ID: 7437466

Claim:
One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions thereon that, when executed by a computer, perform acts within the context of a communications network having a client on a first computer and a media server for storing data on a second computer, the acts comprising: providing a wire protocol that facilitates creation of connections between the media server and the client; using the wire protocol to create a control connection between the media server and the client to facilitate exchange of control information between the media server and the client; and using the wire protocol to create a data connection between the media server and the client to facilitate the exchange of data between the media server and the client at a rate substantially equal to the rate at which the client consumes the data; wherein the media server includes multiple data servers and wherein the step of using the wire protocol to create the data connection includes creating a multipoint-to-point connection between the data servers and the client.