FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING STREAMING MEDIA HAVING A DYNAMICALLY RECONFIGURABLE HIERARCHY OF RING OR MESH TOPOLOGIES

摘要

A distribution network architecture resistant to component failure is provided for distributing streaming media which supports partial mesh and ring-based topologies. Data streams are provided to and transmitted from distribution router clusters employing a shared broadcast medium having one-to-many relationship between respective input distribution routers and output distribution routers. The shared broadcast medium can be a plurality of hubs configured to transmit packets and signaling on opposite, unidirectional paths.