Content delivery mechanisms for multicast communication

摘要

Content delivery by a network node in a network is optimized. The network node is communicatively coupled between multiple client devices and at least one content service provider. A media streaming service provided by a content service provider is received at the network node over a first unicast link. The service is transmitted from the network node to a first requestor device via a second unicast link. A request from a second requestor device for the service is intercepted by the network node. If it is determined that a multicast optimization threshold has been reached and/or exceeded, the service is transmitted from the network node to the first and second requestor devices using a single multicast link, while the service is received from the content service provider over the first unicast link.

主权项

1. A method, with a network node, for optimizing content delivery in a network, the network comprising the network node communicatively coupled between a plurality of client devices and at least one content service provider, the method comprising:
receiving a media streaming service from the content service provider over a first unicast link; transmitting the media streaming service to a first requesting client device in the plurality of client devices via a second unicast link; intercepting a request from a second requesting client device in the plurality of client devices for the media streaming service; determining if a multicast optimization threshold has been at least one of reached and exceeded based on the request from the second requesting device; and based on determining that the multicast optimization threshold has been at least one of reached and exceeded:
transmitting the media streaming service to the first requesting client device and the second requesting client device via a single multicast link as the media streaming service is being received from the content service provider over the first unicast link;after transmitting the media streaming service to the first requesting client device and the second requesting client device, determining, if the multicast optimization threshold is no longer at least one of reached and exceeded; andbased on determining that the multicast optimization threshold is no longer at least one of reached and exceeded:
re-establishing the second unicast link with the first requesting client device;establishing a third unicast link with the second requestor device; andtransmitting the media streaming service to the first requesting client device over the second unicast link and transmitting the media streaming service to the second requesting client device over the third unicast link.