Data transfer to nodes of a communication network using a data channel and a control channel

Abstract

Methods and software products are described for efficiently transferring a data stream to nodes of a communication network. According to the invention, one of the nodes executes code to establish a control channel with one or more remote nodes. The code then replicates itself on the node, and transmits the replication of the code over the control channel to the remote node(s). The remote nodes then execute the code as described any number of times until the control channel is established with each of the nodes in the communication network, and each of the nodes includes the code. The nodes then execute the code to establish a data channel for the nodes. With the control channel and the data channel established, an originating process may then transmit a data stream over the data channel to one or more of the nodes.

1 . A method of transferring a data stream to a plurality of nodes of a communication network, the method comprising: 
 executing code from an originating process that establishes a control channel with a remote node, generates a replication of itself, and transmits the replication over the control channel to the remote node, wherein the code is executed on one or more of the plurality of nodes until the control channel is established with each of the plurality of nodes and each of the plurality of nodes includes the code;    executing the code on the plurality of nodes to establish a data channel with each of the plurality of nodes; and    transmitting a data stream over the data channel from the originating process to at least one of the plurality of nodes.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 transmitting control information over the control channel from the originating process to at least one of the plurality of nodes.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 transmitting status information over the control channel from at least one of the plurality of nodes to the originating process.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data channel is independent from the control channel.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a topology of the control channel is different than a topology of the data channel.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the topology of the control channel comprises a binary tree, and the topology of the data channel comprises a linear chain.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the code comprises a streaming worm.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 tearing-down the control channel and the data channel;    executing the code to establish a new control channel; and    executing the code to establish a new data channel.    
   
   
       9 . A software product for transferring a data stream to a plurality of nodes of a communication network, the software product comprising: 
 storage media that stores an originating program; and    the originating program executable by processing systems to spawn code that: 
 establishes a control channel with a remote node, generates a replication of itself, and transmits the replication over the control channel to the remote node, until the control channel is established with each of the plurality of nodes and each of the plurality of nodes includes the code; and  
 establishes a data channel with each of the plurality of nodes to facilitate the transmission of a data stream over the data channel from the originating process to at least one of the plurality of nodes.  
   
   
   
       10 . The software product of  claim 9  wherein the originating program executes an originating process, and the code transmits control information over the control channel from the originating process to at least one of the plurality of nodes.  
   
   
       11 . The software product of  claim 10  wherein the code transmits status information over the control channel from at least one of the plurality of nodes to the originating process.  
   
   
       12 . The software product of  claim 9  wherein the data channel is independent from the control channel.  
   
   
       13 . The software product of  claim 9  wherein a topology of the control channel is different than a topology of the data channel.  
   
   
       14 . The software product of  claim 13  wherein the topology of the control channel comprises a binary tree, and the topology of the data channel comprises a linear chain.  
   
   
       15 . The software product of  claim 9  wherein the code comprises a streaming worm.  
   
   
       16 . A method of transferring a data stream to a plurality of nodes of a communication network, the method comprising: 
 executing code on the plurality of nodes to establish a control channel with each of the plurality of nodes;    executing the code on the plurality of nodes to establish a data channel with each of the plurality of nodes; and    transmitting a data stream over the data channel from an originating process operating in one of the nodes to at least one of the other nodes;    wherein the data channel is independent from the control channel.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 transmitting control information over the control channel from the originating process to the at least one the other nodes.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 transmitting status information over the control channel from the at least one of the other nodes to the originating process.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a topology of the control channel is different than a topology of the data channel.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the topology of the control channel comprises a binary tree, and the topology of the data channel comprises a linear chain.