US6263371B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for seaming of streaming content
Assignee: CA Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-10
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Granted: 2001-07-17
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Expires: 2019-06-10
Abstract
Abstract In the face of unacceptable data loss on connections between a content source and a content consumer, additional connections therebetween are opened. These additional connections are preferably opened between the content source and a proxy disposed between the content source and the content consumer. The proxy may then seam together data streams received from the content source across the additional connections before passing a resultant seamed stream to the content consumer. The seamed stream may be constructed by filling in information gaps in any of the data streams received from the content source with content derived from others of the data streams received from the content source. This derivation may be made on the basis of identifying characteristics (e.g., packet sequence numbers and/or time stamps) common throughout each of the data streams received from the content source.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Geagan, III
- 👤 Michael D. Kellner
- 👤 Alagu S. Periyannan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/22; H04L65/00; H04L65/60; H04L65/61; H04L65/613; H04L65/70; H04L65/75; H04L65/765; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/23424; H04N21/238; H04N21/2381; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/44016; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/643; H04N21/6437; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1101; H04L67/00; H04L67/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method, comprising seaming together two or more input data streams of common content, each made up of a number of packets, being received from a content source across one or more computer networks using an unreliable media transmission protocol at a proxy disposed between the content source and one or more content consumers so as to provide one or more output data streams to the or more content consumers, each of the output data streams including packets from multiple ones of the input data streams and including fewer missing packets than any individual one of the input data streams being received at the proxy from the content source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method, comprising seaming together two or more input data streams of common content, each made up of a number of packets, being received from a content source across one or more computer networks using an unreliable media transmission protocol at a proxy disposed between the content source and one or more content consumers so as to provide one or more output data streams to the or more content consumers, each of the output data streams including packets from multiple ones of the input data streams and including fewer missing packets than any individual one of the input data streams being received at the proxy from the content source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission protocol comprises real-time transmission protocol (RTP).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the content consumers comprises a plug-in for a Web browser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the seamed data streams are recorded as a seamed stream at the proxy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the proxy is physically co-located at one of the content consumers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the content source comprises a second proxy.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
45 words
A method, comprising opening one or more additional connections between a content consumer and a content source in response to an indication that data loss between the content source and the content consumer over one or more existing connections therebetween has reached an unacceptable level.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
45 words
A method, comprising opening one or more additional connections between a content consumer and a content source in response to an indication that data loss between the content source and the content consumer over one or more existing connections therebetween has reached an unacceptable level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the unacceptable level is defined by a threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the one or more additional connections are opened between the content source and a proxy disposed between the content source and the content consumer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the proxy seams together data streams received from the content source across the additional connections before passing a resultant seamed stream to the content consumer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the proxy constructs the seamed stream by filling in information gaps in any of the data streams received from the content source with content derived from others of the data streams received from the content source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the content is derived from others of the data streams on the basis of identifying characteristics common throughout each of the data streams received from the content source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the identifying characteristics comprise packet sequence numbers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the identifying characteristics comprise time stamps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the identifying characteristics of each of the data streams received from the content source are normalized prior to any comparisons.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising closing down one or more of the connections between the content consumers and the content source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein one or more of the additional connections comprise alternative network routes to the content source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the alternative network routes includes a proxy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A proxy configured to be coupled to one or more content consumers and a content source and further configured to open additional connections to the content source in response to an indication that data loss between the content source and one or more of the content consumers over one or more existing connections therebetween has reached an unacceptable level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
A proxy configured to be coupled to one or more content consumers and a content source and further configured to open additional connections to the content source in response to an indication that data loss between the content source and one or more of the content consumers over one or more existing connections therebetween has reached an unacceptable level.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The proxy of claim 19 wherein the unacceptable level is defined by a threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The proxy of claim 19 being further configured to seam together data streams received from the content source across the additional connections before passing a resultant seamed stream to the one or more content consumers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The proxy of claim 21 being further configured to construct the seamed stream by filling in information gaps in any of the data streams received from the content source with content derived from others of the data streams received from the content source.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The proxy of claim 22 wherein the content is derived from others of the data streams on the basis of identifying characteristics common throughout each of the data streams received from the content source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The proxy of claim 23 wherein the identifying characteristics comprise packet sequence numbers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The proxy of claim 23 wherein the identifying characteristics comprise time stamps.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The proxy of claim 21 being further configured to close down one or more of the connections between the content consumers and the content source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The proxy of claim 21 wherein one or more of the additional connections comprise alternative network routes to the content source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The proxy of claim 27 wherein at least one of the alternative network routes includes another proxy.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The proxy of claim 23 further configured to record the seamed data streams.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The proxy of claim 23 wherein the identifying characteristics of each of the data streams received from the content source are normalized prior to any comparisons.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-16 | 2005-01-15 | 2005-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-16 | 2009-01-15 | 2009-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-16 | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |