Abstract: The present invention is an adaptive file distribution method for choosing a transmission protocol in order to optimize network and processor bandwidth according to the number of client nodes active on the data distribution network. Specifically, a method for adaptively selecting a transport protocol for transmitting data segments across a distributed data network can include the steps of: determining the number and identity of subordinate nodes on the network that will receive the data segment; selecting a data transport protocol according to the number of subordinate nodes determined; and, transmitting the data segment to the subordinate nodes using the selected transport protocol. Significantly, the transport protocol is selected from the group consisting of a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol. Moreover, the connection-oriented protocol can be the Transport Control Protocol, whereas the connectionless protocol can be the Universal Datagram Protocol.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 30, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 29, 2004
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Robert Brian Hutchison, Donald Arthur Richards