APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ERROR CORRECTION IN VARIABLY RELIABLE AND/OR HIERARCHICAL NETWORKS

摘要

A file is multicast from an error-correcting multicast apparatus to a plurality of endpoints forming a first multicast group, over a network segmented into at least second and third multicast groups. The second and third multicast groups are subsets of the first multicast group. Given ones of the endpoints are assigned to the second and third multicast groups based on likelihood of experiencing similar errors. At the error-correcting multicast apparatus, over the network, a retransmission request is obtained from a first one of the endpoints, based on at least one of loss and corruption of a portion of the file during the multicasting of the file to the first one of the endpoints. The portion of the file is retransmitted, via multicasting, over the network, to one of the second and third multicast groups.

主权项

1. A method comprising the steps of:
multicasting a file from an error-correcting multicast apparatus to a plurality of endpoints comprising a first multicast group, over a network segmented into at least second and third multicast groups, said second and third multicast groups being subsets of said first multicast group, given ones of said endpoints being assigned to said second and third multicast groups based on likelihood of experiencing similar errors; obtaining, at said error-correcting multicast apparatus, over said network, a retransmission request from a first one of said endpoints, based on at least one of loss and corruption of a portion of said file during said multicasting of said file to said first one of said endpoints; and retransmitting said portion of said file, via multicasting, over said network, to one of said second and third multicast groups.