CPC H04L 65/611 (2022.05) [H04L 67/12 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
1. A multimedia distribution network, the network comprising:
a first network node configured as a head controller;
a plurality of second network nodes configured as a plurality of intermediate controllers connected to the first network node;
a plurality of third network nodes configured as a plurality of end device controllers, each connected to one of the plurality of second network nodes,
the head controller being further configured to transmit a multicast stream of multimedia control signal packets for controlling the plurality of end device controllers to the plurality of intermediate controllers, and
the plurality of intermediate controllers being further configured to periodically transmit unicast delay queries to the head controller, to process received multimedia control signal packets and to distribute processed multimedia control signal packets to the end device controllers with a controllable delay based on content of timestamped unicast delay indicator signals sent by the head controller to the plurality of intermediate controllers in response to the unicast delay queries,
wherein the head controller receives the unicast delay queries and immediately returns the timestamped unicast delay indicator signals back to the querying intermediate controller.
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