Multicast videoconferencing

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is a method of transferring data. The method includes receiving a first video data stream at a first machine. The method also includes multicasting the first video data stream in uncompressed and raw form through a network. The method further includes receiving the first video data stream at a second machine. The method also includes playing the first video data stream on the second machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for multicasting data through a network in real-time, the method comprising the computer-implemented acts of:
 multicasting said data through said network as a data stream having a specific rate using a bi-directional delivery protocol (BDP); 
 determining an available bandwidth of said network to connect to a first client; and 
 
       dynamically adjusting a rate of the data stream based on the available bandwidth determined for said network,
 wherein, the adjusted rate of the data stream is selected such that the first client having available network bandwidth to receive the data stream at the adjusted rate based on the available bandwidth; 
 wherein, said dynamic adjustment of the rate of the data stream occurs automatically based on the available bandwidth, 
 multicasting at least a portion of the data to the first client at the adjusted rate based on the available bandwidth; 
 sending a signal to a checksum point to request a data packet of the data that is missing from the at least a portion of the data received at the first client; 
 passing corrective data through the network via the bi-directional delivery protocol; and 
 performing error correction to reduce packet loss using checksums when multicasting said data; 
 wherein, said data comprises video data that is multicasted through the network in uncompressed form, and 
 wherein, said bi-directional delivery protocol (BDP) comprises sending a binomial TCP forward packet and a simple UDP backwards packet allowing for matching up of the TCP packet and the UDP packet. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 multicasting the data to a second client connected to said network. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 using a multicast global listener (multicast GL) between the first and second clients to correct for packet loss; 
 wherein, the first client sends the data to the second client and the second client sends the data to the first client. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein, the multicast GL is implemented in, one or more of, TAPI 3 and IGMPv3. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising
 multicasting the data through the network from the second client; and 
 receiving the data at the first client. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 performing a multi-client web browsing session; 
 wherein, a browser at the first client is locked to a browser at the second client and displays the same website as that displayed at the second client. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, said determining of the available bandwidth is based on a source client connected to said network and configured to send the rate of data stream. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said determining of the available bandwidth is performed, by the source client, through a process of increasing and decreasing the rate of the rate of data stream sent for delivery to the first client. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first client and a second client join a group configured to receive the rate of data stream, and wherein the rate of the rate of data stream corresponds to a receiving rate of the first client and the second client. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the data includes audio data. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein, the audio data is uncompressed. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, to determine the available bandwidth, the first client receives a second rate of data stream. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein, the first client ceases to receive the second rate of data stream upon determination of insufficient available bandwidth. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein an increase in the available network bandwidth is achieved by filtering specific information from the rate of data stream multicast through the network. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the specific information is selected from the group consisting of a frame type, layer, frequency, and codec. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the data comprises live updates to a sporting event. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a checksum result at the first client; and 
 determining a list of data packets that are missing from the at least a portion of the data received at the first client using the checksum result. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the network is a local area network or wide area network. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the network is the internet or an intranet. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the network is a wireless network. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein, the first client is a wireless phone. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic adjustment of the rate of data stream is based on modifying a TCP window size and modifying a compression rate of the data of the rate of data stream. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rate of data stream is directed through one or more routers located on the network, wherein the one or more routers are not actively enabled for multicasting.