Application-layer multicast for mobile users in diverse networks
First Claim
1. A telecommunications network for providing multicast services to mobile users, said network comprising:
- at least one media server for providing content;
a virtual network of backbone proxies that communicate with said media server and acting as a gateway between said media server and said mobile users; and
local proxies that communicate with said backbone proxies and act as a gateway between said mobile users and said backbone proxies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
As multicast services become prevalent, it is important to find viable solutions for multicasting to mobile nodes. This problem is complicated by the necessity to support multicast services over existing backbone and access networks that may have varying network and/or link layer multicasting capabilities. While most work on supporting multicast services focuses on the IP layer solution, the present invention presents an application-layer approach for providing multicast services to mobile users traversing networks with diverse multicast capabilities. The present invention places multicast proxies in the backbone and access networks to support several multicast-related functions at the application layer including the creation of virtual networks for dynamically tunneling through non-multicast-capable networks.
46 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A telecommunications network for providing multicast services to mobile users, said network comprising:
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at least one media server for providing content;
a virtual network of backbone proxies that communicate with said media server and acting as a gateway between said media server and said mobile users; and
local proxies that communicate with said backbone proxies and act as a gateway between said mobile users and said backbone proxies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for a mobile user to join a multicast group, said method comprising:
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establishing a telecommunications network for providing multicast services to mobile users comprising at least one media server for providing content, a virtual network of backbone proxies that communicate with said media server and acting as a gateway between said media server and said mobile user, and local proxies that communicate with said backbone proxies and act as a gateway between said mobile user and said backbone proxies, said method comprising;
said local proxies advertising said content provided by said media server;
said mobile user sending a request for said content;
said local proxies receiving said request and forwarding said request to said media server through said virtual network;
said media server sending said content to said local proxies through said virtual network; and
said local proxies sending said content to said mobile users. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification