US5894480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for operating a multicast system on an unreliable network
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-08
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Granted: 1999-04-13
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Expires: 2017-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A multicast network system comprises a data network which provides a medium for data transfer. A media source having a control packet and media packets coupled to the data network broadcasts the control packet and the media packets to the data network and rebroadcasts the control packet in conjunction with the media packets to the data network. A media receiver is coupled to the network and receives the control packet and the media packets from the data network to process the control packet and the media packets to produce a media output.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric M. Hoffert
- 👤 Mark A. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5627; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/564; H04L2012/5642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A multicast network system comprising: a data network which provides a medium for transfer of digital signals; and a media source providing to the data network a media packet, and a control packet including format information that enables processing of the media packet, wherein said control packet is repeatedly transmitted in conjunction with said media packet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A multicast network system comprising: a data network which provides a medium for transfer of digital signals; and a media source providing to the data network a media packet, and a control packet including format information that enables processing of the media packet, wherein said control packet is repeatedly transmitted in conjunction with said media packet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The multicast network system of claim 1, wherein the data network carries a control packet preceding each media packet on the data network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multicast network system of claim 1, wherein the media packet includes audio samples and video frames which are to be processed to produce a media output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The multicast network system of claim 3 wherein the media packet includes datagrams which provide the format information pertaining to the audio samples and the video frames.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multicast network system of claim 4, further comprising: a media receiver coupled to the data network, wherein the media receiver processes the received datagrams to determine if the audio samples and the video frames can be used by the media receiver to produce the media output signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multicast network system of claim 5, further comprising a second media receiver coupled to the data network which processes the control packet and the media packet broadcast by the media source to produce a second media output signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multicast network system of claim 6, wherein the second media receiver completes processing the control packet before processing the media packet from the data network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The multicast network system of claim 1, wherein the control packet is rebroadcast at a fixed time interval after a previous broadcast of the control packet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The multicast network system of claim 1, wherein the data network is an unreliable network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The multicast network system of claim 1, wherein the media source broadcasts the control packet and later broadcasts a second control packet with different format information pertaining to the media packet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The multicast network system of claim 10, further comprising a media receiver coupled to the network, which receives the control packet and the media packets from the data network to process the control packet and the media packets to produce a media output, and which completes processing the second control packet before processing the media packet from the data network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The multicast network system of claim 1, further comprising a media receiver coupled to the network, which receives the control packet and the media packets from the data network to process the control packet and the media packets to produce a media output, and which stores the control packet and the media packet and at a later time produces the media output signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-12 | 2002-10-12 | 2003-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-12 | 2006-10-12 | 2007-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-12 | 2010-10-12 | 2011-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |