Transmitting apparatus and transmitting method
View Patent ↗To transmit multimedia data in such a manner that is adaptive to the transmission capability of a receiving apparatus and/or to the congestion state of a network. In a transmitting apparatus ( 100 ), a receiver capability estimating part ( 102 ) estimates, based on feedback information from a receiving apparatus ( 200 ), a useable band. A receiver classifying part ( 103 ) classifies, based on the useable band, the receiving apparatus. A receiver list rearranging part ( 105 ) rearranges, in order of transmission capability, a receiver list where classified receiving apparatuses are listed in classes. A packet generating part ( 106 ) generates a packet having the receiver list and transmits it at an appropriate transmission rate.
1. A transmitting apparatus for delivering the same packet to a plurality of receiving apparatuses connected through a network, the same packet being delivered through a unicast route using a receiving apparatus list that shows a delivery order for the plurality of receiving apparatuses, the transmitting apparatus comprising:
a receiver that receives, from the plurality of receiving apparatuses, information related to transmission capabilities of the plurality of receiving apparatuses;
a receiver capability estimating section that estimates bands available for use with the plurality of receiving apparatuses, based on the received information related to the transmission capabilities;
a receiver classifying section that classifies the plurality of receiving apparatuses into predetermined classes having associated thresholds, the classification being based on the estimated available bands;
a classified receiver storing section that records a receiving apparatus list of each class classified by the receiver classifying section; and
a receiver list rearranging section that rearranges the receiving apparatus list of each class recorded by the classified receiver storing section, in order from a highest available band, based on the estimated available bands,
wherein the delivering of the same packet comprises transmitting the same packet to one of the plurality of receiving apparatuses such that the one receiving apparatus then transmits the same packet to another of the plurality of receiving apparatuses according, to the rearrange receiving apparatus list of each class.
2. The transmitting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a measuring section that transmits, to the plurality of receiving apparatuses, a measuring packet for measuring the bands available for use with the plurality of receiving apparatus, wherein:
the information related to the transmission capabilities of the plurality of receiving apparatuses comprises information provided in response to the measuring packet.
3. The transmitting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: after a predetermined period of time elapses, the receiver obtains information about a transmission capability of a predetermined receiving apparatus at the end of a subsequent predetermined period of time;
the receiver capability estimating section estimates a band that will be available for use with the predetermined receiving apparatus at the end of the subsequent predetermined period of time, based on the obtained information about the transmission capability of the predetermined receiving apparatus;
the receiver classifying section reclassifies the predetermined receiving apparatus into a class, based on the estimated band that will be available for use with the predetermined receiving apparatus; and
when the reclassification changes the class of the predetermined receiving apparatus, the receiver list rearranging section rearranges the receiving apparatus list of the class including the predetermined receiving apparatus, in order from a highest available band.
4. The transmitting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein: the classified receiver storing section records the receiving apparatus list of each classified class, and class update times at which the plurality of receiving apparatuses are reclassified into classes; and
when there is no change of the classes by the reclassification, and a period of time equal to or greater than a specified period of time elapses after a class update time of the predetermined receiving apparatus, the receiver list rearranging section moves the predetermined receiving apparatus to a bottom of the receiving apparatus list of the class including the predetermined receiving apparatus.
5. A transmitting method for delivering the same packet to a plurality of receiving apparatuses connected through a network, the same packet being delivered through a unicast route using a receiving apparatus list that shows a delivery order for the plurality of receiving apparatuses, the transmitting method comprising:
at a receiver, receiving, from the plurality of receiving apparatuses, information related to transmission capabilities of the plurality of receiving apparatuses;
at a receiver capability estimating section, estimating bands available for use with the plurality of receiving apparatuses, based on the received information related to the transmission capabilities;
at a receiver classifying section, classifying the plurality of receiving apparatuses into predetermined classes having associated thresholds, the classification being based on the estimated available bands;
at a classified receiver storing section, recording a receiving apparatus list of each class classified at the receiver classifying section; and
at a receiver list rearranging section, rearranging the receiving apparatus list of each class recorded at the classified receiver storing section, in order from a highest available band, based on the estimated available bands,
wherein the delivering of the same packet comprises transmitting the same packet to one of the plurality of receiving apparatuses such that the one receiving apparatus then transmits the same packet to another of the plurality of receiving apparatuses according to the rearranged receiving apparatus list of each class.
6. A transmitting apparatus delivering the same packet to a plurality of receiving apparatuses connected through a network, the same packet being delivered through a unicast route using a receiving apparatus list that shows a delivery order for the plurality of receiving apparatuses, the transmitting apparatus comprising:
a receiver that receives, from the plurality of receiving apparatuses, information related to transmission capabilities of the plurality of receiving apparatuses;
a receiver capability estimating section that estimates bands available for use with the plurality of receiving apparatuses, based on the received information related to the transmission capabilities;
a receiver classifying section that classifies the plurality of receiving apparatuses into predetermined classes having associated thresholds, the classification being based on the estimated available bands;
a classified receiver storing section that records a receiving apparatus list of each class classified by the receiver classifying section; and
a receiver list rearranging section that rearranges the receiving apparatus list of each class recorded by the classified receiver storing section, in order from a highest available band, based on the estimated available bands, wherein:
the classified receiver storing section records the receiving apparatus list of each classified class, and class update times at which the plurality of receiving apparatuses are reclassified into classes; and
when there is no change of the classes by the reclassification, and a period of time equal to or greater than a specified period of time elapses after a class update time of a predetermined receiving apparatus, the receiver list rearranging section moves the predetermined receiving apparatus to a bottom of the receiving apparatus list of the class including the predetermined receiving apparatus.