Fast-response receiver-driven layered multicast with multiple servers

Almost all the proposed layered multicast algorithms support a single server, i.e. a receiver can only subscribe to at most one server. A common restriction to single server approach Is that the maximum number of subscribed layers, as well as the maximum achievable throughput Is limited by the specific bottleneck link between a receiver and the server. In this paper, a new layered multicast protocol, called Fast-response Receiver-driven Layered Multicast with Multiple Servers (FRLM-MS) Is proposed. Our design allows a receiver to subscribe to more than one servers. A FRLM-MS receiver can benefit from multiple paths to the multiple servers, resulting In a higher achievable bandwidth. It In turn allows the receiver to have a higher layer subscription, and thus a better playback performance.