Apple's abstract
Reliability is added to RTP by having a client acknowledge to the server each of the RTP packets received by the client, and retransmitting from the server to the client any of the packets that remain unacknowledged subsequent to expiration of a predetermined time duration subsequent to the timestamp. The server continuously determines a maximum number of bytes that may be contained in the RTP packets streaming into the network and, in the event a number of bytes in the RTP packets exceeds the maximum number, discontinues streaming of the RTP packets until it is determined that the number of bytes is less than the maximum number. The server also continuously determines a present streaming rate at which the RTP packets are streamed into the network wherein the present streaming rate exceeds the normal streaming rate.
Summary of the invention
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and limitations of RTP by adding reliability to this protocol through the reduction of lost packets and over buffering the data. With the present invention, retransmission of lost packet in RTP is possible without the limitations and disadvantages described above. According to one embodiment of the present invention, computer system includes a computer network, a client having a buffer, and a server. The client and the server are selectively in communication with each other over the network. The buffer temporarily storing a plurality of RTP packets streamed into the network by the server at a normal streaming rate commensurate with a rate of reading the packets by the client from the buffer. Each of the RTP packets includes at least a sequence number and a timestamp. The client acknowledges to the server each of the packets received by the client, and the server re-transmits to the client any of the packets that remain unacknowledged subsequent to expiration of a predetermined time duration subsequent to the timestamp. The server continuously determines a maximum number of bytes that may be contained in the RTP packets streaming into the network and, in the event a number of bytes in the RTP packets exceeds the maximum number, discontinues streaming of the RTP packets until the number of bytes is less than the maximum number. The server further continuously determines a present streaming rate at which the RTP packets are streamed into the network wherein the present streaming rate exceeds the normal streaming rate.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a reliable RTP method includes acknowledging to the server each of the packets received by the client, re-transmitting from the server to the client any of the packets that remain unacknowledged subsequent to expiration of a predetermined time duration subsequent to the timestamp, continuously determining a maximum number of bytes that may be contained in the RTP packets streaming into the network and, in the event a number of bytes in the RTP packets exceeds the maximum number, discontinuing streaming of the RTP packets until the determining step indicates the number of bytes is less than the maximum number, and continuously determining a present streaming rate at which the RTP packets are streamed into the network wherein the present streaming rate exceeds the normal streaming rate.
Notice
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The inventors of patent [url=http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%22Apple+Computer%22&OS="Apple+Computer"&RS="Apple+Computer"]20060129693[/url] are Chris LeCroy and Gregory Vaughan.
