Importance

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Abstract

Within a computer network, a first one of a number of clients may be a consumer of information included within one or more data streams transmitted between a server and one or more others of the clients. However, each of the clients are also communicatively coupled to the server via a command channel independent of these data streams. In some cases, the first client receives the information as the data streams are transmitted from the server to the other clients, while in other cases the first client receives the information as it is being transmitted from the other clients to the server. In addition to the data streams, the first client may exchange additional information with the server. The data streams may be transmitted on a wireless communication link communicatively coupling the server and the clients. However, the first client may receive the information via a communication path separate from the wireless communication link. In some cases the information represents only a portion of the data streams transmitted between the server and the clients. Bandwidth within the network may be allocated by partitioning a communication channel into a number of slots according to bandwidth needs of information consumers and information providers within the network; and sharing at least one of the slots among two of the information consumers within the network.

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First Claim