Stream Merging Methods.

A class of merging methods for multicast delivery of streaming media allow a client to receive data transmitted concurrently to other clients [21,24]. File segmentation and transmission schemes have been developed to achieve alternative tradeoffs among the required server network throughput, the client network throughput, and the playback initiation latency. Those schemes are significantly different from the present work because they have been specifically designed to support real-time delivery guarantees over reliable multicast- enabled networks assuming a fixed receiving rate for each client. On the contrary our system more generally provides efficient support of file (or file segment) transfers over unicast networks widely available today. If stream merging methods are applicable over unicasting networks, they could also be used complementarily with block reordering for better sharing of data segment transmissions.

The insights underlying our approach are related to Steere's work with asynchronous set iterators [40], although our approach does not affect the order in which data is delivered to a client application.