Method, apparatus, and computer program product for transmitting and receiving broadcast packets
First Claim
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1. A computer-based method of receiving and transmitting broadcast packets, comprising:
- selecting a first broadcast packet in a first subnet;
specifying a second subnet, wherein the first subnet is different from the second subnet;
transmitting the data contained in the first broadcast packet to the second subnet via one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet, wherein the transmitted packet is forwarded through a router;
receiving a packet in the first subnet from the second subnet, wherein the received packet is one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and
broadcasting the data contained in the received packet to the first subnet using a broadcast packet.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for propagating broadcast packets among several subnets without configuring routers to forward broadcast packets is provided. The broadcast packets are propagated between subnets as unicast or multicast packets. Further, the broadcast packets are efficiently propagated to only the subnets that desire broadcast propagation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-based method of receiving and transmitting broadcast packets, comprising:
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selecting a first broadcast packet in a first subnet;
specifying a second subnet, wherein the first subnet is different from the second subnet;
transmitting the data contained in the first broadcast packet to the second subnet via one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet, wherein the transmitted packet is forwarded through a router;
receiving a packet in the first subnet from the second subnet, wherein the received packet is one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and
broadcasting the data contained in the received packet to the first subnet using a broadcast packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for receiving and transmitting broadcast packets, comprising:
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selecting means for selecting a first broadcast packet in a first subnet;
specifying means for specifying a second subnet, wherein the first subnet is different from the second subnet;
transmitting means for transmitting the data contained in the first broadcast packet to the second subnet via one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet, wherein the transmitting means forwards the transmitted packet through a router;
receiving means for receiving a packet in the first subnet from the second subnet, wherein the received packet is one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and
broadcasting means for broadcasting the data contained in the received packet to the first subnet using a broadcast packet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embedded in said medium for causing a computer in a first subnet to receive and transmit broadcast packets, comprising:
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first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select a first broadcast packet in a first subnet;
second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to specify a second subnet, wherein the first subnet is different from the second subnet;
third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to transmit the data contained in the first broadcast packet to the second subnet via one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet, wherein the transmitted packet is forwarded through a router;
fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a packet in the first subnet from the second subnet wherein the received packet is one of a unicast packet and a multicast packet; and
fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to broadcast the data contained in the received packet to the first subnet using a broadcast packet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification