Method and apparatus for managing multicast data on an IP subnet
US7177318B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
7References
3Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5642
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication system, in one embodiment, has set top boxes that the have the ability to monitor the subnet to which they are coupled. A multicast router couples one or more groups, such as groups of video programs, to the set top boxes as requested by the set top boxes. If one set top box leaves a first group, for example, and thus sends a leave message to the router, the other set top box or boxes know to send a join message if they are subscribed to that first group. Thus, the router knows immediately to couple that first group on that subnet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.