A method and system for performing chaincast communication to multiple communication
systems (e.g., computer systems) within a system of coupled electronic devices
(e.g., the Internet). The present invention provides a system wherein a broadcast
source communicates primary broadcast information (e.g., encoded audio radio content,
encoded audio/video television content, etc.) to a first group of electronic devices.
The first group of electronic devices can be instructed by a chaincast manager
to then communicate (e.g., forward or retransmit) the broadcast information to
other electronic devices which devices can also be instructed to communicate to
more devices, etc., thereby reducing the bandwidth requirements of the communication
channel between the broadcast source and the first group of electronic devices.
The chaincast manager, coupled to the Internet, is used to track and manage which
devices are forwarding broadcast information to which other devices. The chaincast
manager is also used to monitor the packet rates between the electronic devices.
In response to the packet rates falling below a pre-determined threshold value,
the transmission re-routes communications to provide better communication load
sharing across the system. The chaincast communication system may also include
a number of secondary broadcast servers for broadcasting secondary information
content (e.g., advertisement, emergency information, community information, etc.)
to be rendered independently of the primary broadcast information content.
