Methods for managing a pool of multicast addresses and allocating addresses in a communications system
US7023813B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a communications system having a plurality of endpoints each including a logical entity and its physical counterpart, a method for managing a pool of multicast addresses. The method including the steps of: generating a pool of available multicast addresses; receiving a request for a multicast address; allocating a multicast address for usage subject to at least a first limitation; monitoring the usage of the allocated multicast address; and reclaiming the allocated multicast address if as a function of the monitoring it is detected that a first condition is met, and causing the allocated multicast address to be placed into the pool of available multicast addresses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.