Apparatus and method for multicasting data in a communication network

• US 20070153789A1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruckus IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joshi, Avinash, Barker, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1854 with non-centralised forwarding system, e.g. chaincast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

Techniques are provided for providing information to a group of nodes over a medium. Before transmitting information to the group of nodes, a source can analyze factors to determine transmission reliability of a first transmission technique and a second transmission technique and generate an analysis result. Based on the result of this analysis, the source can select one of the first transmission technique and the second transmission technique for providing the information to the group of nodes over the medium.

Claims

1. A method of providing information to a group of nodes over a medium, comprising:

analyzing factors to determine transmission reliability of a first transmission technique and a second transmission technique for providing information to the group of nodes over the medium;

generating an analysis result; and

selecting, based on the analysis result, one of the first transmission technique and the second transmission technique.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the factors comprise the number of nodes in the group, and

wherein the step of analyzing factors, comprises:

analyzing the number of nodes in the group to determine transmission reliability of;

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group and a required level of transmission reliability, and

wherein the step of analyzing factors, comprises:

analyzing the number of nodes in the group and the required level of transmission reliability to determine transmission reliability of;

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, and inter-packet delay, and

wherein the step of analyzing factors, comprises:

analyzing the number of nodes in the group, the required level of transmission reliability and inter-packet delay, to determine transmission reliability of;

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, inter-delay, throughput for the service being used, and

wherein the step of analyzing factors, comprises:

analyzing number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, inter-packet delay, throughput for the service being used, to determine transmission reliability of;

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, inter-packet delay, throughput for the service being used, reliability of the medium, and

wherein the step of analyzing factors, comprises:

analyzing the number of nodes in the group, the required level of transmission reliability, the inter-packet delay, the throughput for the service being used, the reliability of the medium to determine transmission reliability of;

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the information using the one of the first transmission technique and the second transmission technique which is selected.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first transmission technique comprises:

repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

wherein the step of transmitting the information, comprises;

determining, based on the analysis result, a number of times to repeatedly broadcast/multicast the information over the medium to ensure reliable transmission to the group of nodes; and

multicasting the information via multicast messages to the group of nodes the number of times.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the second transmission technique comprises:

unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the second transmission technique comprises:

unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group, and

wherein the step of transmitting the information, comprises;

transmitting the information via individual unicast messages to each node of the group; and

waiting an amount of time to receive an acknowledgement message from each of the nodes confirming receipt of the information;

retransmitting the information via individual unicast messages to each node of the group from which an acknowledgment message was not received in the amount of time.

11. A node configured to provide information to a group of nodes over a medium, the node comprising:

a processor configured to;

analyze factors to determine transmission reliability of a first transmission technique and a second transmission technique for providing information to the group of nodes over the medium;

generate an analysis result; and

select, based on the analysis result, one of the first transmission technique and the second transmission technique.

12. A node according to claim 11, wherein the factors comprise a number of nodes in the group, and wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the number of nodes in the group, and to determine transmission reliability of:

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information to the group of nodes over the medium, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

13. A node according to claim 11, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group and a required level of transmission reliability, and wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the number of nodes in the group and the required level of transmission reliability to determine transmission reliability of:

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

14. A node according to claim 11, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, and inter-packet delay, and wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the number of nodes in the group, the required level of transmission reliability and inter-packet delay, to determine transmission reliability of:

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

15. A node according to claim 11, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, inter-packet delay, throughput for the service being used, and wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, inter-packet delay, throughput for the service being used, to determine transmission reliability of:

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

16. A node according to claim 11, wherein the factors comprise number of nodes in the group, a required level of transmission reliability, inter-packet delay, throughput for the service being used, reliability of the medium, and wherein the processor is further configured to analyzing the number of nodes in the group, the required level of transmission reliability, the inter-packet delay, the throughput for the service being used, the reliability of the medium to determine transmission reliability of:

(a) repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

(b) unicasting the information over the medium to each node of the group.

17. A node according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit the information using the one of the first transmission technique and the second transmission technique which is selected.

18. A node according to claim 17, wherein the first transmission technique comprises repeatedly broadcasting/multicasting the information over the medium to the group of nodes, and

wherein the processor is configured to determine, based on the analysis result, a number of times to repeatedly broadcast/multicast the information over the medium to ensure reliable transmission to the group of nodes;

and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to repeatedly broadcast/multicast the information the number of times via multicast messages to the group of nodes.

19. A node according to claim 18, wherein the second transmission technique comprises unicasting the information over the media to each node.

20. A node according to claim 17, wherein the second transmission technique comprises unicasting the information over the media to each node, and

wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the information via individual unicast messages to each node, and wherein the processor is configured to wait for an amount of time to receive an acknowledgement message from each of the nodes confirming receipt of the information, and to retransmit the information via individual unicast messages to each of the nodes from which an acknowledgment message was not received in the amount of time.