Data transmission management

Abstract

A system and method to schedule data for transmission. The system comprises data generating means, developing means, and transmission scheduling means. The data generating means generates data comprising content data and metadata relating to the content data. The developing means develops a set of input data. The transmission scheduling means produces a continuously updating schedule for transmission of copies of the content data based on the metadata and the set of input data.

1 . A system, comprising: 
 data generating means for generating data comprising content data and metadata relating to the content data;    developing means for developing a set of input data; and    a scheduling apparatus comprising: 
 transmission scheduling means for producing a continuously updating schedule for transmission of the content data based on the metadata and the set of input data, wherein said continuously updating schedule comprises a scheduling frequency strategy that specifies an increasing rate for transmission of copies of the content data to receiving devices during specified peak time periods; and  
 dispatching means for periodically retrieving said copies from a priority queue means and transmitting said copies to receiving devices based on said continuously updating schedule, said receiving devices external to said scheduling apparatus, said continuously updating schedule configured to be updated based on feedback data generated by the dispatching means each time a copy of said copies is transmitted by the dispatching means, each said copy comprising a specified importance level with respect to additional copies of additional content data.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispatching means is configured to periodically transmit said copies at specified times based on said continuously updating schedule.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispatching means is configured to periodically transmit said copies during a specified time frame.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises priority level information for transmission of said copies.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of input data comprises target data regarding a target receiving party for said copies.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the transmission scheduling means is configured to use the target data to determine a percentage of said target receiving party that will successfully receive a first copy of said copies.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission scheduling means is further configured to meet a quality of service for said content data requested in said metadata.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the content data is selected from the group consisting of audio data, video data, and a software object.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of input data comprises a model of a target population that uses said receiving devices.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said continuously updating schedule further comprises a scheduling frequency strategy that specifies transmitting said copies to said receiving devices during time periods specified by users of said receiving devices.  
   
   
       11 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a data generating means, a developing means, and a scheduling apparatus, said scheduling apparatus comprising a transmission scheduling means and a dispatching means;    generating, by said data generating means, data comprising content data and metadata relating to the content data;    developing, by said developing means, a set of input data; and    producing, by said transmission scheduling means, a continuously updating schedule for transmission of the content data based on the metadata and the set of input data, wherein said continuously updating schedule comprises a scheduling frequency strategy that specifies an increasing rate for transmission of copies of the content data to receiving devices during specified peak time periods;    periodically retrieving, by said dispatching means, said copies from a priority queue means;    transmitting, by said dispatching means, said copies to receiving devices based on said continuously updating schedule, said receiving devices external to said scheduling apparatus;    generating, by said dispatching means, feedback data each time a copy of said copies is transmitted, each said copy comprising a specified importance level with respect to additional copies of additional content data; and    continuously updating, by said transmission scheduling means, said continuously updating schedule based on said feedback data.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dispatching means is configured to periodically transmit said copies at specified times based on said continuously updating schedule.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dispatching means is configured to periodically transmit said copies during a specified time frame.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the metadata comprises priority level information for transmission of said copies.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set of input data comprises target data regarding a target receiving party for said copies.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the transmission scheduling means is adapted to use the target data to determine a percentage of said target receiving party that will successfully receive a first copy of said copies.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the transmission scheduling means is further adapted to meet a quality of service for said content data requested in said metadata.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content data is selected from the group consisting of audio data, video data, and a software object.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set of input data comprises a model of a target population that uses said receiving devices.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said continuously updating schedule further comprises a scheduling frequency strategy that specifies transmitting said copies to said receiving devices during time periods specified by users of said receiving devices.  
   
   
       21 . A computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to implement a scheduling method within a system, said system comprising a data generating means, a developing means, and a scheduling apparatus, said scheduling apparatus comprising a transmission scheduling means and a dispatching means, said method comprising: 
 generating, by said data generating means, data comprising content data and metadata relating to the content data;    developing, by said developing means, a set of input data; and    producing, by said transmission scheduling means, a continuously updating schedule for transmission of the content data based on the metadata and the set of input data, wherein said continuously updating schedule comprises a scheduling frequency strategy that specifies an increasing rate for transmission of copies of the content data to receiving devices during specified peak time periods;    periodically retrieving, by said dispatching means, said copies from a priority queue means;    transmitting, by said dispatching means, said copies to receiving devices based on said continuously updating schedule, said receiving devices external to said scheduling apparatus;    generating, by said dispatching means, feedback data each time a copy of said copies is transmitted, each said copy comprising a specified importance level with respect to additional copies of additional content data; and    continuously updating, by said transmission scheduling means, said continuously updating schedule based on said feedback data.    
   
   
       22 . A computer system comprising a processor and a computer readable memory unit coupled to the processor, said memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method for scheduling transmission of content data within a system, said system comprising a data generating means, a developing means, and a scheduling apparatus, said scheduling apparatus comprising a transmission scheduling means and a dispatching means, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of: 
 generating, by said data generating means, data comprising content data and metadata relating to the content data;    developing, by said developing means, a set of input data; and    producing, by said transmission scheduling means, a continuously updating schedule for transmission of the content data based on the metadata and the set of input data, wherein said continuously updating schedule comprises a scheduling frequency strategy that specifies an increasing rate for transmission of copies of the content data to receiving devices during specified peak time periods;    periodically retrieving, by said dispatching means, said copies from a priority queue means;    transmitting, by said dispatching means, said copies to receiving devices based on said continuously updating schedule, said receiving devices external to said scheduling apparatus;    generating, by said dispatching means, feedback data each time a copy of said copies is transmitted, each said copy comprising a specified importance level with respect to additional copies of additional content data; and    continuously updating, by said transmission scheduling means, said continuously updating schedule based on said feedback data.