System and method for achieving accelerated throughput

Abstract

Systems and methods for transporting data between two endpoints over an encoded channel are disclosed. Data transmission units (data units) from the source network are received at an encoding component logically located between the endpoints. These first data units are subdivided into second data units and are transmitted to the destination network over the transport network. Also transmitted are encoded or extra second data units that allow the original first data units to be recreated even if some of the second data units are lost. These encoded second data units may be merely copies of the second data units transmitted, parity second data units, or second data units which have been encoded using erasure correcting coding. At the receiving endpoint, the second data units are received and are used to recreate the original first data units.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of increasing throughput of data transmissions through a network in which data transmission units are transmitted between one of a plurality of sources and one or more of a plurality of destinations, said method comprising:
 producing first data transmission units at a source of said plurality of sources;   segmenting and packaging said first data transmission units produced at said source to provide a number of second encoded data transmission units of a smaller size and a number of extra second encoded data transmission units;   transmitting said second encoded data transmission units and said extra second encoded data transmission units to a destination of said one or more of a plurality of destinations over said network; and   reassembling said first data transmission units at said destination by decoding said received second encoded data transmission units and said extra second encoded data transmission units;   characterized in that   at least one of said number of second encoded data transmission units and said number of extra second encoded data transmission units is dynamically adjusted based on at least one of observed and reported network performance between one or more of said sources and one or more of said destinations.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said number of extra second encoded data transmission units is dynamically adjusted based on a performance of a data transmission session. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said performance includes data transmission units lost during said data transmission session. 
     
     
         32 . The method of any one of  claims 29 , wherein said extra second encoded data transmission units are derived from said second encoded data transmission units, or include parity information based on said second encoded data transmission units, or include data transmission units with an erasure correcting code. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said step of segmenting and packaging comprises:
 segmenting the first data transmission units in accordance with a dynamically adjusted encoding rate, wherein the dynamically adjusted encoding rate is determined by monitoring loss rates for each of a plurality of communication sessions;   determining an average loss rate in accordance with the loss rates of each communication session; and   communicating a loss rate of the communication session to one of said source and said destination and the average loss rate to the other one of said source and said destination to permit the other one of said source and said destination to adjust its encoding rate.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein
 said number of second encoded data transmission units and said number of extra second encoded data transmission units are based on a number of data transmission units lost during said data transmission session.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 said first data transmission unit is a data packet created at said source,   the data packet created at the source being segmented and packaged to provide a predetermined number of encoded data segments of smaller size and a predetermined number of extra encoded data segments, wherein said number of encoded data segments and number of extra encoded data segments are dynamically adjusted based on a measured loss rate of a communication session in which data packets are transmitted between the source and the destination over the network.   
     
     
         36 . A system for increasing throughput of data transmissions through a network in which data transmission units are transmitted between one of a plurality of sources and one or more of a plurality of destinations, said system comprising:
 a segmenting module coupled to a source of said plurality of sources for segmenting first data transmission units produced at said source to provide a number of second encoded data transmission units of a smaller size and a number of extra second encoded data transmission units;   a transmission module coupled to said segmenting module for transmitting said second encoded data transmission units and said extra second encoded data transmission units to a destination of said one or more of a plurality of destinations over said network; and   a reassembly module coupled to said destination to reassemble said first data transmission units produced at said source by decoding said received second encoded data transmission units and said extra second encoded data transmission units and to deliver said first data transmission unit to said destination;   characterized in that   at least one of said number of second encoded data transmission units and said number of extra second encoded data transmission units is dynamically adjusted based on at least one of observed and reported network performance between one or more of said sources and one or more of said destinations.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said performance includes data transmission units lost during a data transmission session. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein said extra second encoded data transmission units are derived from said second encoded data transmission units, or include parity information based on said second encoded data transmission units, or include data transmission units with an erasure correcting code.