Claims
- 1. A method for measuring a bandwidth of a signal path between a data source and a data recipient, comprising the steps of:
sending a block of test data from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient; using that test data to obtain a measured bandwidth of the signal path; and transferring information from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient in accordance with the measured bandwidth.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signal path includes the Internet.
- 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information comprises streaming media data.
- 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the measured bandwidth for a future use.
- 5. A method for measuring a bandwidth of a signal path between a data source and a data recipient, comprising the steps of:
detecting whether the bandwidth of the signal path was previously determined; if the bandwidth of the signal path was not previously determined, sending a block of test data from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient and using that test data to obtain a measured bandwidth of the signal path; and transferring information from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient in accordance with either the previously determined bandwidth or the measured bandwidth.
- 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the signal path includes the Internet.
- 7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the information comprises streaming media data.
- 8. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of storing the measured bandwidth for a future use, if the block of test data has been sent.
- 9. A method for measuring a bandwidth of a signal path between a data source and a data recipient, comprising the steps of:
sending a block of test data from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient and measuring a time required for the test data to be transferred to the data recipient; determining whether the measured time is at least a threshold value and, if the measured time is at least the threshold value, using the measured time to determine a measured bandwidth of the signal path; and transferring information from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient in accordance with the measured bandwidth.
- 10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of:
setting the measured bandwidth to a default value if an amount of delay exceeds a predetermined time, and wherein, if the measured time is at least the threshold value, the using of the measured time to determine a measured bandwidth of the signal path is delayed.
- 11. A method for measuring a bandwidth of a signal path between a data source and a data recipient, comprising the steps of:
detecting whether the bandwidth of the signal path was previously determined; if the bandwidth of the signal path was not previously determined, sending a block of test data from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient and measuring a time required for the test data to be transferred to the data recipient; if the bandwidth of the signal path was not previously determined, determining whether the measured time is at least a threshold value and, if the measured time is at least the threshold value, using the measured time to determine a measured bandwidth of the signal path; and transferring information from the data source along the signal path to the data recipient in accordance with either the previously determined bandwidth or the measured bandwidth.
- 12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of:
setting the measured bandwidth to a default value if an amount of delay exceeds a predetermined time, and wherein, if the measured time is at least the threshold value, the using of the measured time to determine a measured bandwidth of the signal path is delayed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/903,888, filed on Jul. 12, 2001.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09903888 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
10462349 |
Jun 2003 |
US |