Data communication method and system for transmitting multiple data streams calculating available bandwidth per stream and bit stream trade-off

摘要

A data transmission method and system is disclosed in which a transmission rate formula is used to calculate the network bandwidth available per data stream to be transmitted. Multiple data streams are then transmitted at respective bit-rates the sum of which is not greater than the product of the number of data streams and the calculated bandwidth available per stream, but where individual data stream's rates can be increased at the expense of other of the transmitted streams. The invention is of particular use in streaming multimedia, and provides for controlled streaming rates of each type of media at the proper ratios. A data receiving method and system adapted to receive the data streams is also disclosed.