System and method for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for using ad hoc networks in cooperation with service provider networks. Multi-network devices communicate with each other as peers in an ad hoc network while each accessing a service provider network. The multi-network devices may each receive the same real-time multimedia stream, be it broadcast or unicast, while sharing stream parity information. The peers may take corrective action to maintain uninterrupted playback of the real-time multimedia stream with no or minimal loss in perceived quality. The peers may further cooperate to facilitate bandwidth and power optimization, fast channel switching, and real-time mobile traffic and network analysis, displays and alerts.
1. A system for receiving data over multiple communication links comprising:
a server comprising communication circuitry configured to broadcast data and a server processor coupled to the communication circuitry;
a first multi-network device comprising a first memory and a first device processor coupled to the first memory; and
a second multi-network device comprising a second memory and a second device processor coupled to the second memory,
wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
receiving broadcast data from the server via a broadcast communication link;
storing the broadcast data received via the broadcast communication link in the first memory;
determining whether the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments;
determining whether the second multi-network device is in communication range of the first multi-network device;
establishing a direct wireless communication link with the second multi-network device after determining that the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments and after determining that the second multi-network device is in communication range of the first multi-network device; and
receiving the missing data fragments from the second multi-network device via the direct wireless communication link established after determining that the stored data includes missing data fragments, and
wherein the second device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
receiving data from the server via the broadcast communication link;
storing the received data in the second memory; and
sending portions of the data stored in the second memory to the first multi-network device over the direct wireless communication link as the missing data fragments.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first multi-network device is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a portable computer, a desktop computer, and a gateway.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the provider server is coupled to a network service provider selected from the group consisting of a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) service provider, an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service provider, a fiber service provider, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) service provider, a universal mobile telecommunications system/high-speed downlink packet access (UMTS/HSDPA) service provider, a code division multiple access/evolution-data optimized (CDMA/EV-DO) service provider, and an enhanced data rates for gsm evolution (EDGE) service provider.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving broadcast data from the server comprises receiving video data over the broadcast communication link.
5. A multi-network device method of receiving data over multiple communication links comprising:
receiving in a processor of the multi-network device broadcast data transmitted from a server over a broadcast communication link;
storing the broadcast data received via the broadcast communication link in a first memory of the first multi-network device;
determining whether the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments;
determining whether a second multi-network device is in communication range of the first multi-network device;
establishing a direct wireless communication link with the second multi-network device after determining that the stored data includes missing data fragments and after determining that the second multi-network device is in communication range; and
receiving the missing data fragments from the second multi-network device via the direct wireless communication link established with the second multi-network device after determining that the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments.
6. The multi-network device method of claim 5 , wherein receiving in a processor of the multi-network device broadcast data transmitted from the server over the broadcast communication link comprises receiving broadcast data in a device selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a portable computer, a desktop computer, and a gateway.
7. The multi-network device method of claim 5 , wherein receiving in a processor of the multi-network device broadcast data transmitted from the server over the broadcast communication link comprises receiving data from a server coupled to a network service provider selected from the group consisting of a DOCSIS service provider, an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service provider, a fiber service provider, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) service provider, a universal mobile telecommunications system/high-speed downlink packet access (UMTS/HSDPA) service provider, a code division multiple access/evolution-data optimized (CDMA/EV-DO) service provider, and an enhanced data rates for gsm evolution (EDGE) service provider.
8. The multi-network device method of claim 5 , wherein receiving in a processor of the multi-network device broadcast data transmitted from the server over the broadcast communication link comprises receiving video data over the broadcast communication link.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining whether the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments comprises performing forward error correction operations on the stored data.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device processor and the second device processor are each configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving broadcast data transmitted from the server over the broadcast communication link comprises receiving shared parity information over the broadcast communication link.
11. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
organizing the video data into a plurality of pixel blocks, each pixel block including information for a unique location in a display array;
grouping the pixel blocks into a first group and a second group;
transmitting the first group of pixel blocks over a first broadcast channel of the broadcast communication link; and
transmitting the second group of pixel blocks over a second broadcast channel of the broadcast communication link,
the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving video data over the broadcast communication link comprises receiving the first group of pixel blocks via the first broadcast channel, and
the second device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that:
receiving data from the server via the broadcast communication link comprises receiving the second group of pixel blocks via the second broadcast channel; and
sending portions of the data stored in the second memory to the first multi-network device over the direct wireless communication link as the missing data fragments comprises sending the second group of pixel blocks to the first multi-network device over the direct wireless communication link as the missing data fragments.
12. The multi-network device method of claim 5 , wherein determining whether the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments comprises performing forward error correction operations on the stored broadcast data.
13. A multi-network device, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
receiving broadcast data transmitted from a server over a broadcast communication link;
storing the broadcast data received via the broadcast communication link in the memory;
determining whether a second multi-network device is in communication range of the first multi-network device;
determining whether the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments;
establishing a direct wireless communication link with the second multi-network device after determining that the stored data includes missing data fragments and after determining that the second multi-network device is in communication range; and
receiving the missing data fragments from the second multi-network device via the direct wireless communication link with the second multi-network device after determining that the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments.
14. The multi-network device of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining whether the stored broadcast data includes missing data fragments comprises performing forward error correction operations on the stored broadcast data.