Patent · US Expired

Methods for achieving reliable joins in a multicast IP network

US7133371B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 1, 2000
Grant dateNov 7, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 1, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L45/16
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods are described that enable host devices of a multicast IP network to reliably join multicast group address(es) in talkgroup or point-to-point calls. For a talkgroup call, a sourcing host sends “hello” packets or payload to one or more network devices, addressed to a multicast group address. The receiving host issues a join command to the one or more network devices in an attempt to reliably join the multicast group address. If any packets are received by the receiving host within a designated time period associated with the attempt, the receiving host is reliably joined to the multicast group address. For a point-to-point call, a controller sends a pair of multicast group addresses, one designated for sourcing packets and the other designated for receiving packets, to a first and second host participating in the point-to-point call. The designated “source” and “receive” multicast group address are complementary for the first and second hosts. When the first or second host is acting as a source, it sends hello packets or payload addressed to its designated “source” multicast group address. When the first or second host is acting as a receiver, it attempts to join its designat…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.