Multicast registration of all multicast flows in an asynchronous transfer mode based emulated LAN
US6563830B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5621
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for and a method of implementing multicast registration in an ATM based ELAN. The present invention provides a mechanism for a LEC to register to receive all multicast group traffic flows without requiring the LEC to generate a separate request for each multicast MAC address. The mechanism of the present invention provides means for a LEC to register to receive all multicast flows by defining an ‘all_multicast’ TLV and including this TLV in the LE_REGISTER_REQUEST request message sent by the LEC. The LEC, LES and SMS are modified to perform the multicast registration/unregistration method of the present invention. The LEC generates the LE_REGISTER_REQUEST message and includes the all_multicast TLV indicating that the LEC desires to receive all multicast traffic flows in the ELAN. The LES, upon receipt of such an all_multicast TLV, adds the LEC to its list of LECs to receive all multicast traffic and communicates the related information to the SMS. The SMS is adapted to add the LEC to each of the multicast groups currently maintained by the SMS. A similar symmetric process occurs in the event a LEC wishes to stop receiving all multicast traffic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.