Multicasting in IP distributive networks

• US 20020024956A1
• Filed: 08/24/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Keller-Tuberg, Stefan Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/935,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024956A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.52
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5642 Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5667 IP over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

This invention provides an efficient means of enabling bi-directional communication in a multicast IP network using ATM transport. Packet forwarding rules at the end-user modem and at the multicast router separate unidirectional multicast and bi-directional control flows. This enables the user to control the process of multicast services such as video-on-demand, while ensuring that the bi-directional flows are carried over the network in an efficient manner.

Claims

1. A method of providing bi-directional communication in a broadcast enabled network,

the method including implementing packet or cell forwarding rules at end user equipments and at a multicast router to enable the separation of downstream and bi-directional or unidirectional upstream flows.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein unidirectional flows pass from a router to an access node as a single stream and are replicated in the access node for transmission over individual paths to the end user equipments, and wherein individual bi-directional flows are relayed between the router and end user equipments as individual flows via the access node.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the rules separate the flows into:

one or more shared point-to-multipoint connections on which unidirectional multicast information flow is transmitted;

a dedicated point-to-point connection for each end-user equipment on which other traffic is transmitted.

4. A method is claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the information flow is carried on an ATM point to multipoint connection and wherein bi-directional and control flows are carried on an ATM point-to-point connection.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein unidirectional flows between the router and the user equipments are point-to-multipoint ATM flows.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein control flows and bi-directional flows are transmitted between the user equipments and the router as point-to-point ATM flows.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the router is an IP multicast router.

10. A network as claimed in claim 8, including a cell or packet based access node supporting bi-directional point-to-point and unidirectional point-to-multipoint transport connections interposed between the router and the end user communication equipments.

5. A method of providing bi-directional communication in a point-to-multipoint enabled network, the network including:

a multicast router; and

a plurality of end-user communication equipments;

the method including;

implementing packet forwarding rules at the end user communication devices and at the IP multicast router to allow the separation of unidirectional and bi-directional flows;

a method as claimed in the network including;

a cell or packet based access node and IP gateway supporting bi-directional point-to-point and unidirectional point-to-multipoint transport connections;

interposed between the router and the end-user communication equipments.

9. A point-to-multipoint enabled network including:

a multicast router;

a plurality of end user communication equipments;

wherein the end user equipments and the multicast router are controlled by packet forwarding rules to enable the separation of unidirectional and bi-directional flows.

11. A method of providing bi-directional communication substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A network substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.