Multi-source, as it applies to
download
In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar systems. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote ...
ing
data
Data ( , ) are a collection of discrete or continuous values that convey information, describing the quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted for ...
, or files from the
internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
, is a method of decreasing download time for large files by getting data from two or more
sources
Source may refer to:
Research
* Historical document
* Historical source
* Source (intelligence) or sub source, typically a confidential provider of non open-source intelligence
* Source (journalism), a person, publication, publishing institute ...
.
Overview
A program that can handle multi-source downloads will connect to one
computer
A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...
and begin downloading the desired file, then find another computer hosting the same file and begin downloading that file as well. The program controls downloads so that each source file provides separate data and the user does not download the same part of the file twice. The program then builds the file on the downloader's computer much faster than it would if it had to wait for the entire file to be downloaded from a single source.
This works faster because the rate at which the file servers upload is finite and download rates are generally faster than upload rates. Therefore, downloading from a single server would create a bottleneck if the server's upload rate does not equal your maximum download rate. So distributing the download across multiple servers allows you to utilize all of your download rate potential.
Many
download manager
A download manager is a type of software that manages the downloading of files from the Internet, which may be built into a web browser, or as a standalone program.
Functions
A download manager manages files being downloaded from the internet. ...
s use the principles of multi-source downloading.
Examples of programs that use Multi-source downloading
ApexDC++ is an example of a program that uses multi-source downloading. The program uses a DC (direct connect) protocol and downloads a large file by dividing it into smaller parts and downloading the smaller parts from different hosts
External links
US Patent 6,339,785: Multi-server file download
Download managers
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