Multicast data packet recovery system
Particular embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to support a multicast data packet recovery system. In an example embodiment, the system includes a distribution server operable to detect a missed data packet in a multicast data stream; issue a request for a retransmission of the missed data packet to an acquisition server via a unicast data channel; receive the requested data packet via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for a retransmission of the missed data packet; and send the requested data packet to one or more subscribers.
1 . A system comprising:
a distribution server operable to:
detect a missed data packet in a multicast data stream;
issue a request for a retransmission of the missed data packet to an acquisition server via a unicast data channel;
receive the requested data packet via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for a retransmission of the missed data packet; and
send the requested data packet to one or more subscribers.
2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the request for a retransmission includes a data packet identity sufficient to enable insertion of the requested data packet into a content sequence in the proper position for consumption by a user.
3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detection of a missed data packet includes receiving a notification from a subscriber via a unicast channel that a data packet has been missed in the multicast data stream.
4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the requested data packet is sent to one or more subscribers via a second unicast data channel.
6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the requested data packet is sent to one or more subscribers via a second multicast data channel.
7 . A system comprising:
an acquisition server operable to:
receive a request for transmission of a data packet from a distribution server via a unicast data channel; and
send the requested data packet to a distribution server via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for transmission of the data packet.
8 . The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the request for transmission includes a data packet identity sufficient to enable insertion of the requested data packet into a content sequence in the proper position for consumption by a user.
9 . The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
10 . The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the request for transmission of a data packet includes a request for retransmission of a missed data packet.
11 . A system comprising:
an acquisition server operable to:
receive a request for transmission of a data packet from a distribution server via a unicast data channel; and
send the requested data packet to a subscriber via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for transmission of the data packet.
12 . The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the request for transmission includes a data packet identity sufficient to enable insertion of the requested data packet into a content sequence in the proper position for consumption by a user.
13 . The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
14 . The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the request for transmission of a data packet includes a request for retransmission of a missed data packet.
15 . A system comprising:
an acquisition server operable to:
receive a request for transmission of a data packet from a distribution server via a unicast data channel;
selectively choose a unicast or a multicast channel to transmit the data packet; and
send the requested data packet via the chosen data channel, in response to the request for transmission of the data packet.
16 . The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the request for transmission includes a data packet identity sufficient to enable insertion of the requested data packet into a content sequence in the proper position for consumption by a user.
17 . The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
18 . The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the request for transmission of a data packet includes a request for retransmission of a missed data packet.
19 . A system comprising:
a national multicast termination (NMT) server operable to:
detect a missed data packet in a multicast data stream;
issue a request for a retransmission of the missed data packet to an acquisition server via a unicast data channel;
receive the requested data packet via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for a retransmission of the missed data packet; and
send via a multicast data channel the requested data packet to a downstream device.
20 . The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the request for a retransmission includes a data packet identity sufficient to enable insertion of the requested data packet into a content sequence in the proper position for consumption by a user.
21 . The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
22 . A method comprising:
detecting a missed data packet in a multicast data stream;
issuing a request for a retransmission of the missed data packet to an acquisition server via a unicast data channel;
receiving the requested data packet via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for a retransmission of the missed data packet; and
sending the requested data packet to one or more subscribers.
23 . The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the request for a retransmission includes a data packet identity sufficient to enable insertion of the requested data packet into a content sequence in the proper position for consumption by a user.
24 . The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the detection of a missed data packet includes receiving a notification from a subscriber via a unicast channel that a data packet has been missed in the multicast data stream.
25 . The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
26 . The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the requested data packet is sent to one or more subscribers via a second unicast data channel.
27 . The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the requested data packet is sent to one or more subscribers via a second multicast data channel.
28 . A method comprising:
receiving a request for transmission of a data packet from a distribution server via a unicast data channel; and
sending the requested data packet to a distribution server via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for transmission of the data packet.
29 . The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.
30 . An article of manufacture comprising at least one machine readable storage medium having one or more computer programs stored thereon and operable on one or more computing systems to: detect a missed data packet in a multicast data stream; issue a request for a retransmission of the missed data packet to an acquisition server via a unicast data channel; receive the requested data packet via a multicast data channel, in response to the request for a retransmission of the missed data packet; and send the requested data packet to one or more subscribers.
31 . An article of manufacture according to claim 30 wherein the multicast data stream includes video content.