Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method that delivers content from one or more content sources to a plurality of subscriber units via a flow transport subsystem that transports content flows originated from the one or more content sources over a wide area network in response to one or more requests for deadline-driven content flows. E.g., live or interactive flows. One or more gateways interface with the flow transport subsystem for receiving the deadline-driven content flows. Each of the one or more gateways is associated with one or more subscriber units and is selected based on one or more requests for deadline-driven content flows. A content processor converts the deadline-driven content flows to modulated content flows, and a flow delivery subsystem delivers the modulated content flows to one or more subscriber units associated with a selected gateway over an allocated frequency bandwidth of one or more transmission mediums.

Abstract: A routing system and method for flows within a network provides multicast flow transport for one or more groups. Transit routers comprising processing units that run overlay processes route one or more flows based on overlay group identifiers. Access nodes issue requests for overlay groups in order to receive flows from the transit routers. The overlay processes utilize a mapping service that maps overlay group identifiers to native multicast group identifiers. A control channel between the access nodes and transit routers is used for communicating access nodes requests, overlay group identifiers, and native multicast group identifiers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packet recovery method for packets communicated between sender and receiver nodes of an overlay network that runs over an underlying IP network. The present invention executes a packet recovery process at a receiver node upon satisfaction of a packet recovery condition that is associated with meeting a deadline driven criteria for a transmitted packet. The packet recovery process associates N number of scheduled times with N requests for retransmission of the transmitted packet. At least one of the N scheduled times includes a receiver waiting time. At each N scheduled time, a request for retransmission of the transmitted packet is transmitted to a source node. A packet retransmission process at the sender node is executed upon the first receipt of a request for retransmission of the transmitted packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method that delivers content from one or more content sources to a plurality of subscriber units via a flow transport subsystem that transports content flows originated from the one or more content sources over a wide area network in response to one or more requests for deadline-driven content flows. E.g., live or interactive flows. One or more gateways interface with the flow transport subsystem for receiving the deadline-driven content flows. Each of the one or more gateways is associated with one or more subscriber units and is selected based on one or more requests for deadline-driven content flows. A content processor converts the deadline-driven content flows to modulated content flows, and a flow delivery subsystem delivers the modulated content flows to one or more subscriber units associated with a selected gateway over an allocated frequency bandwidth of one or more transmission mediums.

Abstract: A Flow Transport and Delivery Network (FTDN) supports delivery and transport of flows to destination nodes over parallel overlay networks. Overlay nodes executing overlay processes create and maintain one or more overlay networks. A plurality of sites are connected to each other via the parallel overlay networks with each site comprising one or more transit routers that route the flows to the destination nodes.