Discarded packet indicator
A source device ( 10 ) sends information to a destination device ( 12 ) through intermediary network elements ( 14 ). If an intermediary network element ( 14 ) needs to discard one or more packets of information, it sends a smaller informational packet to the destination device ( 12 ). Upon receiving the informational packet, the destination device can immediately begin correctional procedures.
1. A network comprising:
a source device for sending information;
a destination user device for receiving the information from the source device; and
one or more intermediate network elements for passing the information between the source device and the destination user device,
wherein each of the intermediate network elements include circuitry for:
identifying at least one packet, having a header and a payload, within the information for discard based on a payload a video packet priority indicator within the header;
modifying the header of the at least one identified packet to include a discard indicator, and modifying the at least one identified packet to remove the payload, thereby forming at least one modified packet; and
sending the at least one modified packet to the destination user device.
2. The network of claim 1 wherein the destination user device includes circuitry for correcting errors in response to receiving the at least one modified packet.
3. The network of claim 2 wherein the circuitry for correcting errors includes circuitry for selectively inhibiting retransmission requests and for concealing errors due to missing information.
4. The network of claim 1 wherein the payload contains video information.
5. The network of claim 1 wherein the payload contains audio information.
6. The network of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises real-time, multicasted information.
7. A network element for passing information between a source device and a destination user device, comprising:
circuitry for identifying at least one packet, having a header and a payload, within information for discard based on a video packet priority indicator within the header;
circuitry for modifying the header of the at least one identified packet to include a discard indicator, and modifying the at least one identified packet to remove the payload, thereby forming at least one modified packet; and
circuitry for sending the at least one modified packet to a destination user device.
8. The network element of claim 7 wherein the payload contains video information.
9. The network element of claim 7 wherein the payload contains audio information.
10. The network element of claim 7 and further comprising memory for storing received packets.
11. The network element of claim 10 wherein said memory comprises a FIFO memory.
12. The network element of claim 10 wherein said memory comprises a randomly addressable memory.
13. The network element of claim 7 , wherein the information comprises real-time, multicasted information.
14. A method of passing information between a source device and a destination user device, comprising the steps of:
receiving packets within information in a network element, the packets being sent from the source device toward the destination user device;
identifying at least one packet, having a header and a payload, within the information for discard based on a video packet priority indicator within the header;
modifying the header of the at least one identified packet to include a discard indicator, and modifying the at least one identified packet to remove the payload, thereby forming at least one modified packet; and
sending the at least one modified packet to the destination user device.
15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising the steps of inhibiting a retransmission request at the destination user device responsive to receiving the at least one modified packet and performing concealment procedures at the destination device.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the information comprises real-time, multicasted information.