WO1998048343A1 - System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network - Google Patents

System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998048343A1
WO1998048343A1 PCT/US1998/004384 US9804384W WO9848343A1 WO 1998048343 A1 WO1998048343 A1 WO 1998048343A1 US 9804384 W US9804384 W US 9804384W WO 9848343 A1 WO9848343 A1 WO 9848343A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
multicast
group
igmp
multicast group
remote
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/004384
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Leonard Paul Gray
James Fletcher
Original Assignee
Motorola Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Inc. filed Critical Motorola Inc.
Priority to AU65440/98A priority Critical patent/AU735576B2/en
Priority to BR9815478-8A priority patent/BR9815478A/en
Priority to CA002287195A priority patent/CA2287195A1/en
Priority to EP98911499A priority patent/EP1029263A4/en
Priority to JP54572598A priority patent/JP2001521716A/en
Publication of WO1998048343A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998048343A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02Details
    • H04L12/16Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • H04L12/185Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast with management of multicast group membership
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/14Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/2801Broadband local area networks

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to managing multicast group membership in a multicast network.
  • An improved way for the producer to transmit the information to the consumers is by a multicast service.
  • the multicast service allows the producer to transmit a single message, which is then replicated by the network at appropriate points and delivered to each consumer that is a member of a multicast group.
  • Replication is typically handled by routers in the network, and is done only when needed.
  • a router that supports the multicast service is referred to as a multicast router.
  • each multicast router In order to support the multicast service, each multicast router typically supports at least one multicast routing protocol which is used for exchanging multicast group membership information between the various multicast routers in the network.
  • multicast routing protocols include Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP), Multicast Open Shortest Path First (MOSPF), and Protocol Independent Multicasting (PIM).
  • DVMRP Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol
  • MOSPF Multicast Open Shortest Path First
  • PIM Protocol Independent Multicasting
  • each multicast router that has directly connected LANs will typically support the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) as described in Appendix I of Internet RFC 1112 (IGMP Version 1 ) and in an Internet Draft entitled Internet Group Management Protocol. Version 2 by Fenner (IGMP Version 2).
  • IGMP Internet Group Management Protocol
  • a multicast router uses IGMP to learn which multicast groups have members on each of its attached physical networks.
  • the multicast router maintains a database containing a list of multicast group memberships for each of its attached networks, where "multicast group membership" means the presence of at least one member of a multicast group on a given attached network.
  • the multicast router does not maintain a list of all of the group members from its attached networks.
  • the list of multicast group memberships is referred to as the "group list.”
  • IGMP is used between the multicast router and its directly connected IP hosts (i.e., host computers on the directly connected LANs which support the IP protocol).
  • the IP hosts can join and leave multicast groups, and the multicast router can monitor the multicast group memberships of its IP hosts.
  • the multicast router directly connected to an IP host is referred to as the local router (from the perspective of the IP host), while the other routers in the network are referred to as remote routers.
  • the IGMP defines a number of message types that can be exchanged between the local router and the IP hosts.
  • the IGMP Query message is used by the local router to determine the multicast group memberships for its directly connected IP hosts.
  • the IGMP Membership Report message is sent by an IP host unsolicited when it wants to join a particular multicast group and also in response to an IGMP Query message to report its continued membership in a particular multicast group.
  • the IGMP Leave message is used by an IP host to explicitly remove itself from a multicast group.
  • a device which sends IGMP Query messages e.g., the local router
  • an IGMP Querier a device which sends IGMP Membership Report messages and IGMP Leave messages
  • an IP host a device which sends IGMP Membership Report messages and IGMP Leave messages
  • the local router typically sends IGMP query messages to the IP hosts to retrieve group membership information.
  • IGMP defines two types of query messages, specifically a General Query message and a Group-Specific Query message.
  • the General Query message is sent to determine which (if any) of the available multicast groups have at least one member from the local router's directly connected IP hosts.
  • each IP host transmits an IGMP Membership Report message for each of its multicast group memberships.
  • an IP host that detects a response from another IP host for a particular multicast group may not transmit an IGMP Membership Report message for that same group.
  • the local router may receive a single IGMP Membership Report for each multicast group, even if multiple IP hosts are members of the same group.
  • the Group-Specific Query message is sent to determine if at least one of the directly connected IP hosts is a member of the specified multicast group. At least one IP host that is a member of the specified group will respond to the Group-Specific Query message with an IGMP Membership Report message (again, as for the General Query message, an IP host that is a member of the specified group will only transmit a response if it has not detected a response from any other IP host in the group).
  • an IP host When an IP host wants to be removed from a particular multicast group, it stops reporting its membership in the group (i.e., it does not transmit an IGMP Membership Report for the particular group). By not transmitting an IGMP Membership Report message for a particular multicast group, the IP host implicitly requests removal from the group.
  • An IP host that supports IGMP Version 2 can explicitly request removal from a multicast group by transmitting an IGMP Leave message to the local router.
  • the IGMP Leave message informs the local router that the IP host is no longer a member of the multicast group, and, upon receiving the IGMP Leave message, the local router typically transmits an IGMP Group-Specific Query message to determine if at least one IP host remains a member of the multicast group.
  • FIG. 1 shows a system 100 in which a multicast routing protocol is used between the local router and the multicast network, and IGMP is used for dynamic group registration between the local router and a number of IP hosts (typically personal computers). The overall responsibility for maintaining group membership is divided between the local router and the IP host.
  • the IP hosts act as IGMP Hosts, and the local router acts as an IGMP Querier.
  • the current model for maintaining group membership across a multicast internetwork forces the local router to participate in one or more of the complicated multicast routing protocols in order to propagate group information to other multicast routers.
  • the existing multicast routing protocols are complex, and, due to this complexity, have been changing frequently. This fact makes each protocol difficult to implement and maintain. Also, since no one protocol has been adopted as a standard for all routers, it is often necessary for a multicast router to support many of the protocols, which adds significant cost to the router.
  • FIG. 2 shows an exemplary DOC system in which a headend router (i.e., local router) 210 is coupled to a plurality of cable modems 220i through 220 n via a shared channel 230.
  • a headend router i.e., local router
  • Each headend router may support thousands of cable modems, with each cable modem representing a single LAN segment having at least one host.
  • the headend router must support multicast routing protocols in order to exchange multicast group information over the multicast network.
  • FIG. 1 shows a multicast network as is known in the art
  • FIG. 2 shows a DOC system as is known in the art
  • FIG. 3 shows an exemplary multicast system in which IGMP spoofing in the local router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the local router
  • FIG. 4 shows an exemplary DOC system in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the headend router;
  • FIG. 5 shows an exemplary DOC system in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the multicast server and the headend router;
  • FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for IGMP spoofing in a multicast network
  • FIG. 7 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Membership Report message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent
  • FIG. 8 is a flow diagram for monitoring the multicast group memberships by the IGMP spoofing agent
  • FIG. 9 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Leave message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent
  • FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP General Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device
  • FIG. 1 1 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Group-Specific Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device
  • FIG. 12 shows a device for spoofing IGMP in a multicast network.
  • the present invention works by replacing the multicast routing protocols in the local router with an IGMP spoofing agent.
  • the local router continues to act as an IGMP Querier on its host interfaces (i.e. on the local LAN connections to the directly connected IP hosts).
  • the local router and remote router use IGMP.
  • the remote router takes on the functions of an IGMP Querier, while the IGMP spoofing agent in the local router takes on the functions of an IGMP Host.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent appears to the remote router as a single IGMP Host, and uses the multicast group membership information maintained by the local router to act as a proxy on behalf of its directly connected IP hosts.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent joins a multicast group if at least one of its directly connected IP hosts is a member of the group, and leaves the multicast group when the last of its directly connected IP hosts leaves the group.
  • FIG. 3 shows an exemplary multicast system 300 in which IGMP spoofing in the local router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the local router.
  • FIG. 4 shows an exemplary DOC system 400 in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the headend router.
  • FIG. 5 shows an exemplary DOC system 500 in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the multicast server and the headend router.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent performs standard IGMP Host functions in order to consolidate the multicast group memberships for the multicast hosts and present them to the remote multicast device as a single IGMP Host.
  • IGMP spoofing reduces the cost and complexity of the local router, since the local router need not support any of the multicast routing protocols.
  • IGMP spoofing can also reduce the cost and complexity of the remote multicast device (e.g., the remote router or server), which is only required to support IGMP on the network interface to the local router. If the remote multicast device is a multicast server, then the multicast server need not support any of the multicast routing protocols, so the cost and complexity of the multicast server is reduced.
  • FIG. 6 A flow diagram for IGMP spoofing in a multicast network is shown in FIG. 6.
  • the logic maintains a group list indicating the multicast group membership status for the number of multicast hosts.
  • the logic establishes a multicast group membership with the remote multicast device on behalf of the multicast hosts.
  • the logic maintains the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device so long as at least one of the multicast hosts remains a member of the multicast group.
  • the logic cancels the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device so that the remote multicast device no longer sends multicast messages to the IGMP spoofing agent.
  • the logic also responds to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the number of multicast hosts.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent checks the database to determine if the specified multicast group is in the group list. If the multicast group is in the group list, then no action is needed to add the multicast host to the group. However, if the multicast group is not in the group list, then the IGMP spoofing agent adds the multicast group to the group list and sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device specifying the multicast group.
  • FIG. 7 A flow diagram for processing an IGMP Membership Report message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent is shown in FIG. 7.
  • the logic is the same whether the IGMP Membership Report message is received unsolicited or in response to an IGMP Query message.
  • the logic begins in step 710 and, upon receiving an IGMP Membership Report message from a multicast host in step 720, proceeds to step 730 where it checks the database to determine whether the multicast group is in the group list. If the multicast group is not in the group list (NO in step 740), then the logic adds the multicast group to the group list, in step 750, and sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device in order to request membership in the multicast group, in step 760. The logic terminates in step 799.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent also monitors the multicast group memberships of its multicast hosts by periodically sending status inquiries (i.e. IGMP Query messages) to the multicast hosts. Specifically, the IGMP spoofing agent uses standard IGMP Querier functions to determine which (if any) of the multicast groups in the group list are no longer needed. For each unneeded group, the IGMP spoofing agent deletes the group from the group list and, if IGMP Version 2 is supported, sends an IGMP Leave message to the remote multicast device requesting removal from the multicast group.
  • FIG. 8 A flow diagram for monitoring the multicast group memberships by the IGMP spoofing agent is shown in FIG. 8.
  • the logic begins in step 810 and proceeds to step 820, where the logic uses standard IGMP Querier functions to determine which (if any) of the multicast groups in the group list are no longer needed. For each unneeded group (YES in step 830), the logic deletes the group from the group list, in step 840, and sends an IGMP Leave message to the remote multicast device requesting removal from the multicast group (if IGMP Version 2 is supported), in step 850. When all unneeded groups have been removed from the group list (NO in step 830), the logic terminates in step 899.
  • multicast hosts that support IGMP Version 2 can explicitly request removal from a multicast group by sending an IGMP Leave message to the local router.
  • a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Leave message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent is shown in FIG. 9. The logic begins in step 910 and, upon receiving an IGMP Leave message in step 920, proceeds to step 930 where it uses standard IGMP Querier functions to determine if at least one of the multicast hosts supported by the local router remains a member of the multicast group.
  • step 940 If there are no remaining members in the multicast group (NO in step 940), then the logic deletes the multicast group from the group list, in step 950, and sends an IGMP Leave message to the remote multicast device requesting removal from the multicast group (if IGMP Version 2 is supported), in step 960. The logic terminates in step 999.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent In addition to maintaining the status of multicast group memberships for the multicast hosts, the IGMP spoofing agent also responds to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the multicast hosts.
  • the remote multicast device sends IGMP Query messages to the IGMP spoofing agent as part of its IGMP Querier functionality.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent responds to the status inquiries using standard IGMP Membership Report messages.
  • FIG. 10 A flow diagram for processing an IGMP General Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device is shown in FIG. 10.
  • the logic begins in step 1010 and, upon receiving an IGMP General Query message in step 1020, accesses the database to obtain the group list, in step 1030, and sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device for each multicast group in the group list.
  • the logic terminates in step 1099.
  • FIG. 11 A flow diagram for processing an IGMP Group-Specific Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device is shown in FIG. 11 .
  • the logic begins in step 1110 and, upon receiving an IGMP Group-Specific Query message in step 1120, proceeds to step 1130 where it checks the database to determine if the specified multicast group is in the group list. If the multicast group is in the group list (YES in step 1 140), then the logic sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device for the multicast group, in step 1 150, and terminates in step 1 1 99.
  • FIG. 12 shows a device 1200 for spoofing IGMP in a multicast network.
  • the device 1200 includes a network interface 1210 for interfacing with another multicast device (such as a remote multicast router or server) or a multicast network.
  • the device 1200 also includes a host interface 1230 for interfacing with a number of multicast hosts.
  • An IGMP spoofing agent 1220 performs IGMP Querier functions over the host interface 1230 for managing the multicast group memberships for the multicast hosts, and performs IGMP Host functions over the network interface 1210 for acting as a proxy on behalf of the multicast hosts.
  • the IGMP spoofing agent 1220 maintains multicast group membership information for its attached multicast hosts in a database 1240 which is updated each time a group membership is established or canceled.
  • the IGMP spoofing technique has been described as relating to the headend router of a DOC system or other local router, it will be apparent to a skilled artisan that the present invention can also be used in other devices such as a remote router, a remote access server, or an IP switch.
  • the remote router When the IGMP spoofing technique is used in a remote router, the remote router will manage the multicast group memberships for its directly attached local and remote routers that also support IGMP spoofing.

Abstract

A system (300, 400, 500), device (1200), and method (600) for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network uses IGMP spoofing to consolidate the multicast group memberships of a number of multicast hosts into a single IGMP Host. The IGMP spoofing agent maintains a group list indicating the multicast group membership status for the number of multicast hosts. The IGMP spoofing agent establishes a multicast group membership with a remote multicast device when at least one of the number of mulicast hosts requests membership in the multicast group. The IGMP spoofing agent cancels the multicast group with the remote multicast device when all of the multicast hosts have left the multicast group. The IGMP spoofing agent responds to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the number of multicast hosts.

Description

System, Device, and Method For Managing Multicast Group
Memberships in a Multicast Network
Background
1 . Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to managing multicast group membership in a multicast network.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In today's information age, there is an increasing demand for access to information using computer networking services such as the Internet. Certain types of information are suitable for use by multiple consumers, for example, news, financial information, and sports scores. These types of information can be packaged by a single producer and transmitted over the computer network to a large number of consumers. A typical way for the producer to transmit the information to the consumers is to duplicate the information and send a copy to each consumer. However, if there are a large number of consumers, these individual transmissions can require a large amount of processing by the producer, and can also require a large amount of network bandwidth.
An improved way for the producer to transmit the information to the consumers is by a multicast service. The multicast service allows the producer to transmit a single message, which is then replicated by the network at appropriate points and delivered to each consumer that is a member of a multicast group. Replication is typically handled by routers in the network, and is done only when needed. For convenience, a router that supports the multicast service is referred to as a multicast router. An overview of IP multicasting can be found in an Internet Draft entitled Introduction to IP Multicast Routing by Semeria and Maufer, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In order to support the multicast service, each multicast router typically supports at least one multicast routing protocol which is used for exchanging multicast group membership information between the various multicast routers in the network. At the present time, several multicast routing protocols exist. Examples of multicast routing protocols include Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP), Multicast Open Shortest Path First (MOSPF), and Protocol Independent Multicasting (PIM). In addition to supporting the multicast routing protocols, each multicast router that has directly connected LANs will typically support the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) as described in Appendix I of Internet RFC 1112 (IGMP Version 1 ) and in an Internet Draft entitled Internet Group Management Protocol. Version 2 by Fenner (IGMP Version 2). A multicast router uses IGMP to learn which multicast groups have members on each of its attached physical networks. The multicast router maintains a database containing a list of multicast group memberships for each of its attached networks, where "multicast group membership" means the presence of at least one member of a multicast group on a given attached network. The multicast router does not maintain a list of all of the group members from its attached networks. For convenience, the list of multicast group memberships is referred to as the "group list." IGMP is used between the multicast router and its directly connected IP hosts (i.e., host computers on the directly connected LANs which support the IP protocol). Using IGMP, the IP hosts can join and leave multicast groups, and the multicast router can monitor the multicast group memberships of its IP hosts. For convenience, the multicast router directly connected to an IP host is referred to as the local router (from the perspective of the IP host), while the other routers in the network are referred to as remote routers.
IGMP defines a number of message types that can be exchanged between the local router and the IP hosts. The IGMP Query message is used by the local router to determine the multicast group memberships for its directly connected IP hosts. The IGMP Membership Report message is sent by an IP host unsolicited when it wants to join a particular multicast group and also in response to an IGMP Query message to report its continued membership in a particular multicast group. The IGMP Leave message is used by an IP host to explicitly remove itself from a multicast group. For convenience, a device which sends IGMP Query messages (e.g., the local router) is referred to as an IGMP Querier, and a device which sends IGMP Membership Report messages and IGMP Leave messages (e.g., an IP host) is referred to as an IGMP Host.
The local router typically sends IGMP query messages to the IP hosts to retrieve group membership information. IGMP defines two types of query messages, specifically a General Query message and a Group-Specific Query message. The General Query message is sent to determine which (if any) of the available multicast groups have at least one member from the local router's directly connected IP hosts. In response to the General Query message, each IP host transmits an IGMP Membership Report message for each of its multicast group memberships. However, since each IP host is typically able to monitor the responses of other IP hosts on the same LAN, an IP host that detects a response from another IP host for a particular multicast group may not transmit an IGMP Membership Report message for that same group. Thus, the local router may receive a single IGMP Membership Report for each multicast group, even if multiple IP hosts are members of the same group.
The Group-Specific Query message is sent to determine if at least one of the directly connected IP hosts is a member of the specified multicast group. At least one IP host that is a member of the specified group will respond to the Group-Specific Query message with an IGMP Membership Report message (again, as for the General Query message, an IP host that is a member of the specified group will only transmit a response if it has not detected a response from any other IP host in the group).
When an IP host wants to be removed from a particular multicast group, it stops reporting its membership in the group (i.e., it does not transmit an IGMP Membership Report for the particular group). By not transmitting an IGMP Membership Report message for a particular multicast group, the IP host implicitly requests removal from the group. An IP host that supports IGMP Version 2 can explicitly request removal from a multicast group by transmitting an IGMP Leave message to the local router. The IGMP Leave message informs the local router that the IP host is no longer a member of the multicast group, and, upon receiving the IGMP Leave message, the local router typically transmits an IGMP Group-Specific Query message to determine if at least one IP host remains a member of the multicast group. FIG. 1 shows a system 100 in which a multicast routing protocol is used between the local router and the multicast network, and IGMP is used for dynamic group registration between the local router and a number of IP hosts (typically personal computers). The overall responsibility for maintaining group membership is divided between the local router and the IP host. The IP hosts act as IGMP Hosts, and the local router acts as an IGMP Querier.
The current model for maintaining group membership across a multicast internetwork forces the local router to participate in one or more of the complicated multicast routing protocols in order to propagate group information to other multicast routers. The existing multicast routing protocols are complex, and, due to this complexity, have been changing frequently. This fact makes each protocol difficult to implement and maintain. Also, since no one protocol has been adopted as a standard for all routers, it is often necessary for a multicast router to support many of the protocols, which adds significant cost to the router.
These same problems exist in a data-over-cable (DOC) system. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary DOC system in which a headend router (i.e., local router) 210 is coupled to a plurality of cable modems 220i through 220n via a shared channel 230. Each headend router may support thousands of cable modems, with each cable modem representing a single LAN segment having at least one host. As in FIG. 1 above, the headend router must support multicast routing protocols in order to exchange multicast group information over the multicast network.
Therefore, a need remains for a system, device, and method for offloading the multicast routing protocols from local routers in a multicast network. Brief Description of the Drawing
In the Drawing, FIG. 1 shows a multicast network as is known in the art;
FIG. 2 shows a DOC system as is known in the art; FIG. 3 shows an exemplary multicast system in which IGMP spoofing in the local router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the local router; FIG. 4 shows an exemplary DOC system in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the headend router;
FIG. 5 shows an exemplary DOC system in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the multicast server and the headend router;
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for IGMP spoofing in a multicast network;
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Membership Report message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent;
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram for monitoring the multicast group memberships by the IGMP spoofing agent;
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Leave message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent; FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP General Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device; FIG. 1 1 is a flow diagram for processing an IGMP Group-Specific Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device; and
FIG. 12 shows a device for spoofing IGMP in a multicast network.
Detailed Description
As discussed above, the need remains for a system, device, and method for offloading the multicast routing protocols from local routers in a multicast network. The present invention works by replacing the multicast routing protocols in the local router with an IGMP spoofing agent. The local router continues to act as an IGMP Querier on its host interfaces (i.e. on the local LAN connections to the directly connected IP hosts). However, instead of using a multicast routing protocol to exchange multicast group membership information with the remote router, the local router and remote router use IGMP. The remote router takes on the functions of an IGMP Querier, while the IGMP spoofing agent in the local router takes on the functions of an IGMP Host. The IGMP spoofing agent appears to the remote router as a single IGMP Host, and uses the multicast group membership information maintained by the local router to act as a proxy on behalf of its directly connected IP hosts. The IGMP spoofing agent joins a multicast group if at least one of its directly connected IP hosts is a member of the group, and leaves the multicast group when the last of its directly connected IP hosts leaves the group.
The drawing shows a number of applications for IGMP spoofing in a multicast network. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary multicast system 300 in which IGMP spoofing in the local router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the local router. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary DOC system 400 in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the remote router and the headend router. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary DOC system 500 in which IGMP spoofing in the headend router allows IGMP to be used between the multicast server and the headend router. In these exemplary embodiments, the IGMP spoofing agent performs standard IGMP Host functions in order to consolidate the multicast group memberships for the multicast hosts and present them to the remote multicast device as a single IGMP Host. IGMP spoofing reduces the cost and complexity of the local router, since the local router need not support any of the multicast routing protocols. IGMP spoofing can also reduce the cost and complexity of the remote multicast device (e.g., the remote router or server), which is only required to support IGMP on the network interface to the local router. If the remote multicast device is a multicast server, then the multicast server need not support any of the multicast routing protocols, so the cost and complexity of the multicast server is reduced.
A flow diagram for IGMP spoofing in a multicast network is shown in FIG. 6. The logic maintains a group list indicating the multicast group membership status for the number of multicast hosts. When at least one of the multicast hosts requests membership in a multicast group, the logic establishes a multicast group membership with the remote multicast device on behalf of the multicast hosts. The logic maintains the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device so long as at least one of the multicast hosts remains a member of the multicast group. When all multicast hosts have left the multicast group, the logic cancels the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device so that the remote multicast device no longer sends multicast messages to the IGMP spoofing agent. The logic also responds to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the number of multicast hosts. When a multicast host requests membership in a multicast group, the IGMP spoofing agent checks the database to determine if the specified multicast group is in the group list. If the multicast group is in the group list, then no action is needed to add the multicast host to the group. However, if the multicast group is not in the group list, then the IGMP spoofing agent adds the multicast group to the group list and sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device specifying the multicast group.
A flow diagram for processing an IGMP Membership Report message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent is shown in FIG. 7. The logic is the same whether the IGMP Membership Report message is received unsolicited or in response to an IGMP Query message. The logic begins in step 710 and, upon receiving an IGMP Membership Report message from a multicast host in step 720, proceeds to step 730 where it checks the database to determine whether the multicast group is in the group list. If the multicast group is not in the group list (NO in step 740), then the logic adds the multicast group to the group list, in step 750, and sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device in order to request membership in the multicast group, in step 760. The logic terminates in step 799.
The IGMP spoofing agent also monitors the multicast group memberships of its multicast hosts by periodically sending status inquiries (i.e. IGMP Query messages) to the multicast hosts. Specifically, the IGMP spoofing agent uses standard IGMP Querier functions to determine which (if any) of the multicast groups in the group list are no longer needed. For each unneeded group, the IGMP spoofing agent deletes the group from the group list and, if IGMP Version 2 is supported, sends an IGMP Leave message to the remote multicast device requesting removal from the multicast group. A flow diagram for monitoring the multicast group memberships by the IGMP spoofing agent is shown in FIG. 8. The logic begins in step 810 and proceeds to step 820, where the logic uses standard IGMP Querier functions to determine which (if any) of the multicast groups in the group list are no longer needed. For each unneeded group (YES in step 830), the logic deletes the group from the group list, in step 840, and sends an IGMP Leave message to the remote multicast device requesting removal from the multicast group (if IGMP Version 2 is supported), in step 850. When all unneeded groups have been removed from the group list (NO in step 830), the logic terminates in step 899.
As discussed above, multicast hosts that support IGMP Version 2 can explicitly request removal from a multicast group by sending an IGMP Leave message to the local router. A flow diagram for processing an IGMP Leave message received from a multicast host by the IGMP spoofing agent is shown in FIG. 9. The logic begins in step 910 and, upon receiving an IGMP Leave message in step 920, proceeds to step 930 where it uses standard IGMP Querier functions to determine if at least one of the multicast hosts supported by the local router remains a member of the multicast group. If there are no remaining members in the multicast group (NO in step 940), then the logic deletes the multicast group from the group list, in step 950, and sends an IGMP Leave message to the remote multicast device requesting removal from the multicast group (if IGMP Version 2 is supported), in step 960. The logic terminates in step 999.
In addition to maintaining the status of multicast group memberships for the multicast hosts, the IGMP spoofing agent also responds to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the multicast hosts. The remote multicast device sends IGMP Query messages to the IGMP spoofing agent as part of its IGMP Querier functionality. The IGMP spoofing agent responds to the status inquiries using standard IGMP Membership Report messages. A flow diagram for processing an IGMP General Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device is shown in FIG. 10. The logic begins in step 1010 and, upon receiving an IGMP General Query message in step 1020, accesses the database to obtain the group list, in step 1030, and sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device for each multicast group in the group list. The logic terminates in step 1099.
A flow diagram for processing an IGMP Group-Specific Query message received by the IGMP spoofing agent from the remote multicast device is shown in FIG. 11 . The logic begins in step 1110 and, upon receiving an IGMP Group-Specific Query message in step 1120, proceeds to step 1130 where it checks the database to determine if the specified multicast group is in the group list. If the multicast group is in the group list (YES in step 1 140), then the logic sends an IGMP Membership Report message to the remote multicast device for the multicast group, in step 1 150, and terminates in step 1 1 99.
FIG. 12 shows a device 1200 for spoofing IGMP in a multicast network. The device 1200 includes a network interface 1210 for interfacing with another multicast device (such as a remote multicast router or server) or a multicast network. The device 1200 also includes a host interface 1230 for interfacing with a number of multicast hosts. An IGMP spoofing agent 1220 performs IGMP Querier functions over the host interface 1230 for managing the multicast group memberships for the multicast hosts, and performs IGMP Host functions over the network interface 1210 for acting as a proxy on behalf of the multicast hosts. The IGMP spoofing agent 1220 maintains multicast group membership information for its attached multicast hosts in a database 1240 which is updated each time a group membership is established or canceled.
While the IGMP spoofing technique has been described as relating to the headend router of a DOC system or other local router, it will be apparent to a skilled artisan that the present invention can also be used in other devices such as a remote router, a remote access server, or an IP switch. When the IGMP spoofing technique is used in a remote router, the remote router will manage the multicast group memberships for its directly attached local and remote routers that also support IGMP spoofing.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. What is claimed is:

Claims

1 . A method (600) for managing multicast group memberships between a remote multicast device and a number of multicast hosts in a multicast network, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining (620) a group list indicating the multicast group membership status for the number of multicast hosts; establishing (630) a multicast group membership with the remote multicast device when at least one of the number of multicast hosts requests membership in the multicast group; and canceling (640) the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device when all of the multicast hosts have left the multicast group.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of establishing the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device comprises the steps of: receiving (720) from a multicast host a membership report message specifying one of a plurality of multicast groups; determining (730) if the specified multicast group is in the group list; and where the specified multicast group is absent from the group l ist : adding (750) the specified multicast group to the group list; and sending (760) a membership report message to the remote multicast device specifying the multicast group.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of canceling the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device comprises the steps of: sending (820) a status inquiry to the number of multicast hosts; receiving (820) a membership report for the multicast group from at least one of the number of multicast hosts if the multicast group is needed; deleting (840) the multicast group from the group list if no membership report is received for the multicast group; and where selected, sending (850) to the remote multicast device a request to leave the multicast group after deleting the multicast group from the group list.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of canceling the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device comprises the steps of: receiving (920) from a multicast host a request to leave a specified multicast group; determining (930) if at least one of the plurality of multicast hosts remains a member of the specified multicast group; where at least one of the plurality of multicast hosts remains a member of the specified multicast group, leaving the specified multicast group in the group list; where none of the plurality of multicast hosts remains a member of the specified multicast group, deleting (950) the specified multicast group from the group list; and where selected, sending (960) to the remote multicast device a request to leave the multicast group after deleting the multicast group from the group list.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: responding (650) to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the number of multicast hosts.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of responding to status inquiries from the remote multicast device comprises the steps of: receiving (1020, 1 120) from the remote multicast device a query message requesting the status of at least one multicast group membership; where the query message requests the status of all multicast group memberships, sending (1040) a membership report message to the remote multicast device for each multicast group in the group l i st ; where the query message requests the status of a specified multicast group membership, checking (1 130) the database to determine if the specified multicast group is in the group list and sending (1 150) a membership report message to the remote multicast device for the specified multicast group if the specified multicast group is in the group list.
7. A device (1200) for managing multicast group memberships for a number of multicast hosts in a multicast network, the device comprising : a network interface (1210) for interfacing with the multicast network; a host interface (1230) for interfacing with the number of multicast hosts; a database (1240) for storing multicast group membership information; and an IGMP spoofing agent (1220) supporting both IGMP Host functionality and IGMP Querier functionality; wherein: the IGMP spoofing agent is operably coupled to the database for maintaining multicast group membership status for the number of multicast hosts; the IGMP spoofing agent is operably coupled to the network interface for supporting the IGMP Host functionality; and the IGMP spoofing agent is operably coupled to the host interface for supporting the IGMP Querier functionality.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the IGMP spoofing agent comprises: logic for maintaining a group list indicating the multicast group membership status for the number of multicast hosts; logic for establishing a multicast group membership with the remote multicast device when at least one of the number of multicast hosts requests membership in the multicast group; and logic for canceling the multicast group membership with the remote multicast device when all of the multicast hosts have left the multicast group.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the IGMP spoofing agent further comprises: logic for responding to status inquiries from the remote multicast device as a proxy on behalf of the number of multicast hosts.
10. A system (300, 400, 500) for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network, the system comprising: a remote multicast device supporting IGMP Querier functionality; at least one multicast host supporting IGMP Host functionality; and a local multicast device, operably coupled to the remote multicast device for supporting IGMP Host functionality and operably coupled to the at least one multicast host for supporting IGMP Querier functionality.
PCT/US1998/004384 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network WO1998048343A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU65440/98A AU735576B2 (en) 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network
BR9815478-8A BR9815478A (en) 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device and method for managing memberships in multicast groups in a multicast network
CA002287195A CA2287195A1 (en) 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network
EP98911499A EP1029263A4 (en) 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network
JP54572598A JP2001521716A (en) 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device and method for managing multicast group membership in a multicast network

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84777397A 1997-04-23 1997-04-23
US08/847,773 1997-04-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998048343A1 true WO1998048343A1 (en) 1998-10-29

Family

ID=25301467

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/004384 WO1998048343A1 (en) 1997-04-23 1998-03-06 System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1029263A4 (en)
JP (1) JP2001521716A (en)
KR (1) KR100358882B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1253641A (en)
AU (1) AU735576B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9815478A (en)
CA (1) CA2287195A1 (en)
MY (1) MY132907A (en)
TW (1) TW367449B (en)
WO (1) WO1998048343A1 (en)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001077841A2 (en) * 2000-04-07 2001-10-18 Network Appliance, Inc. Method and apparatus for reliable and scalable distribution of data files in distributed networks
FR2816469A1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-05-10 Cit Alcatel TELECOMMUNICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL FOR BROADCASTING MULTI-DESTINATION MESSAGES
EP1243091A1 (en) * 1999-12-17 2002-09-25 Motorola, Inc. Methods for implementing a talkgroup call in a multicast ip network
US6529882B1 (en) * 1999-11-03 2003-03-04 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Method for managing group membership in internet multicast applications
EP1335521A2 (en) * 2002-02-08 2003-08-13 Alcatel Method and device for managing multicast groups
EP1359709A2 (en) * 2002-04-30 2003-11-05 Alcatel Facilitating accelerated processing of internet group management protocol messages
US6718361B1 (en) 2000-04-07 2004-04-06 Network Appliance Inc. Method and apparatus for reliable and scalable distribution of data files in distributed networks
DE10342029A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-04-07 Siemens Ag Method for a multicast service
WO2006001803A1 (en) * 2004-06-14 2006-01-05 Alloptic, Inc. Distributed igmp processing
EP1074157B1 (en) * 1999-02-26 2006-08-16 Hughes Electronics Corporation Apparatus and method for efficient delivery of multicast data over a personal access communications system (pacs)
US7177318B2 (en) 2001-08-14 2007-02-13 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Method and apparatus for managing multicast data on an IP subnet
US7487251B2 (en) * 1998-06-17 2009-02-03 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multicast-supporting LAN
US7532622B2 (en) 2003-06-16 2009-05-12 National University Of Singapore Methods, devices and software for merging multicast groups in a packet switched network
US7583669B2 (en) 2004-12-13 2009-09-01 Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute Dynamic multicast group management and service wavelength allocation method for communication-broadcasting convergence service in WDM-PON
GB2496943A (en) * 2011-11-28 2013-05-29 Avaya Inc Managing IGMP multicast transmission using multiple queriers
US9083542B2 (en) 2009-02-09 2015-07-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for using a computer network

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7133922B1 (en) * 2000-08-07 2006-11-07 The Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology Method and apparatus for streaming of data
CN1323524C (en) * 2003-04-25 2007-06-27 华为技术有限公司 Method for making data be directional transmitted in virtual local area network
CN100365987C (en) * 2003-12-31 2008-01-30 华为技术有限公司 Method for logging-out invalid IGMP multicast port on router
CA2577428C (en) * 2004-08-16 2013-12-10 Qualcomm Flarion Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for managing group membership for group communications
CN1852141A (en) 2005-08-16 2006-10-25 华为技术有限公司 Method for realizing upward link back-up
KR100744786B1 (en) * 2005-11-03 2007-08-02 엘지전자 주식회사 System and method for transmitting media stream
KR100740886B1 (en) * 2005-12-09 2007-07-19 한국전자통신연구원 Method for IPv6 Multicast based N-to-N Group Tutoring System in the Home Network
WO2008053064A1 (en) * 2006-11-03 2008-05-08 Raimo Smolander Method of applying protective agent
CN101369994A (en) * 2007-08-15 2009-02-18 华为技术有限公司 Method, apparatus and system for implementing multicast group member management protocol proxy
US8625475B2 (en) 2007-09-24 2014-01-07 Qualcomm Incorporated Responding to an interactive multicast message within a wireless communication system
CN101534206B (en) * 2008-03-13 2011-12-21 华为技术有限公司 Method and system for realizing multicast agent
KR101607092B1 (en) * 2014-11-18 2016-03-29 에스케이텔레콤 주식회사 Method for providing of streaming contents and recording medium recording program therfor
CN107273158B (en) * 2017-06-08 2021-10-26 广东美的暖通设备有限公司 Program upgrading method and device, host, slave and multi-split air conditioning system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5355371A (en) * 1982-06-18 1994-10-11 International Business Machines Corp. Multicast communication tree creation and control method and apparatus
US5553083A (en) * 1995-01-19 1996-09-03 Starburst Communications Corporation Method for quickly and reliably transmitting frames of data over communications links
US5572582A (en) * 1995-02-24 1996-11-05 Apple Computer, Inc. Method and apparatus for establishing communication between two teleconferencing endpoints

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5608726A (en) * 1995-04-25 1997-03-04 Cabletron Systems, Inc. Network bridge with multicast forwarding table

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5355371A (en) * 1982-06-18 1994-10-11 International Business Machines Corp. Multicast communication tree creation and control method and apparatus
US5553083A (en) * 1995-01-19 1996-09-03 Starburst Communications Corporation Method for quickly and reliably transmitting frames of data over communications links
US5727002A (en) * 1995-01-19 1998-03-10 Starburst Communications Corporation Methods for transmitting data
US5553083B1 (en) * 1995-01-19 2000-05-16 Starburst Comm Corp Method for quickly and reliably transmitting frames of data over communications links
US5572582A (en) * 1995-02-24 1996-11-05 Apple Computer, Inc. Method and apparatus for establishing communication between two teleconferencing endpoints

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP1029263A4 *

Cited By (32)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9088505B2 (en) 1998-06-17 2015-07-21 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multi-cast-supporting LAN
US8521894B2 (en) 1998-06-17 2013-08-27 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multi-cast-supporting LAN
US8516139B2 (en) 1998-06-17 2013-08-20 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multicast-supporting LAN
US8429283B2 (en) 1998-06-17 2013-04-23 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multi-cast supporting LAN
US8370512B2 (en) 1998-06-17 2013-02-05 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multicast-supporting LAN
US8364834B2 (en) 1998-06-17 2013-01-29 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multicast-supporting LAN
US7487251B2 (en) * 1998-06-17 2009-02-03 Fujitsu Limited Communication control unit and communication control method applied for multicast-supporting LAN
EP1074157B1 (en) * 1999-02-26 2006-08-16 Hughes Electronics Corporation Apparatus and method for efficient delivery of multicast data over a personal access communications system (pacs)
US6529882B1 (en) * 1999-11-03 2003-03-04 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Method for managing group membership in internet multicast applications
EP1243091A1 (en) * 1999-12-17 2002-09-25 Motorola, Inc. Methods for implementing a talkgroup call in a multicast ip network
EP1243091A4 (en) * 1999-12-17 2006-10-11 Motorola Inc Methods for implementing a talkgroup call in a multicast ip network
EP1744520A3 (en) * 2000-04-07 2007-07-04 Network Appliance, Inc. Method and apparatus for reliable and scalable distribution of data files in distributed networks
US6718361B1 (en) 2000-04-07 2004-04-06 Network Appliance Inc. Method and apparatus for reliable and scalable distribution of data files in distributed networks
WO2001077841A2 (en) * 2000-04-07 2001-10-18 Network Appliance, Inc. Method and apparatus for reliable and scalable distribution of data files in distributed networks
WO2001077841A3 (en) * 2000-04-07 2003-02-06 Network Appliance Inc Method and apparatus for reliable and scalable distribution of data files in distributed networks
FR2816469A1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-05-10 Cit Alcatel TELECOMMUNICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL FOR BROADCASTING MULTI-DESTINATION MESSAGES
WO2002037762A1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-05-10 Alcatel Method and system for broadcasting multicast messages using representatives
US7477613B2 (en) 2000-11-06 2009-01-13 Alcatel Method and system for broadcasting multicast messages using representatives
US7177318B2 (en) 2001-08-14 2007-02-13 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Method and apparatus for managing multicast data on an IP subnet
EP1335521A2 (en) * 2002-02-08 2003-08-13 Alcatel Method and device for managing multicast groups
EP1335521A3 (en) * 2002-02-08 2004-03-10 Alcatel Method and device for managing multicast groups
US7272652B1 (en) 2002-04-30 2007-09-18 Alcatel Lucent Facilitating accelerated processing of internet group management protocol messages
EP1359709A3 (en) * 2002-04-30 2004-01-21 Alcatel Facilitating accelerated processing of internet group management protocol messages
EP1359709A2 (en) * 2002-04-30 2003-11-05 Alcatel Facilitating accelerated processing of internet group management protocol messages
US7532622B2 (en) 2003-06-16 2009-05-12 National University Of Singapore Methods, devices and software for merging multicast groups in a packet switched network
DE10342029A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-04-07 Siemens Ag Method for a multicast service
WO2006001803A1 (en) * 2004-06-14 2006-01-05 Alloptic, Inc. Distributed igmp processing
US7583669B2 (en) 2004-12-13 2009-09-01 Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute Dynamic multicast group management and service wavelength allocation method for communication-broadcasting convergence service in WDM-PON
US9083542B2 (en) 2009-02-09 2015-07-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for using a computer network
GB2496943A (en) * 2011-11-28 2013-05-29 Avaya Inc Managing IGMP multicast transmission using multiple queriers
US8675658B2 (en) 2011-11-28 2014-03-18 Avaya Inc. Using multiple IGMP queriers in a layer 2 network
GB2496943B (en) * 2011-11-28 2014-11-26 Avaya Inc Using multiple igmp queriers in a layer 2 network

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2001521716A (en) 2001-11-06
MY132907A (en) 2007-10-31
KR100358882B1 (en) 2002-10-31
CA2287195A1 (en) 1998-10-29
AU6544098A (en) 1998-11-13
BR9815478A (en) 2001-11-06
CN1253641A (en) 2000-05-17
KR20010020190A (en) 2001-03-15
TW367449B (en) 1999-08-21
EP1029263A4 (en) 2000-09-06
AU735576B2 (en) 2001-07-12
EP1029263A1 (en) 2000-08-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU735576B2 (en) System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network
US6611872B1 (en) Performing multicast communication in computer networks by using overlay routing
US8185657B2 (en) Data generating device
EP1427132B1 (en) Method and device for multicast group management
US8467405B2 (en) Packet forwarding equipment
JP3888209B2 (en) Multicast communication apparatus and system
US20060002391A1 (en) Multicast packet relay device adapted for virtual router
US20070195772A1 (en) Distributed igmp processing
JP5343127B2 (en) Acquisition method of terminal multicast status
US8355401B2 (en) Controlling access to a destination in a data processing network
EP1532767B1 (en) Download optimization in the presence of multicast data
JP3880052B2 (en) Method and apparatus for classifying query originating nodes
JP4775716B2 (en) Relay device, relay method, and relay program
MXPA99009712A (en) System, device, and method for managing multicast group memberships in a multicast network
JP2003258892A (en) Method and system for band management for ip multi-cast distribution

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 98804458.7

Country of ref document: CN

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 65440/98

Country of ref document: AU

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1998911499

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2287195

Country of ref document: CA

Ref document number: 2287195

Country of ref document: CA

Kind code of ref document: A

Ref document number: 1998 545725

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1019997009765

Country of ref document: KR

Ref document number: PA/a/1999/009712

Country of ref document: MX

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1998911499

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1019997009765

Country of ref document: KR

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 65440/98

Country of ref document: AU

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 1019997009765

Country of ref document: KR

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1998911499

Country of ref document: EP