PACKET FORWARDING EQUIPMENT

• US 20100061369A1
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alaxala Networks Corporation (Fortinet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Shinsuke Suzuki
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shinsuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In a multicast network which permits client nodes to join only a source-specific multicast group, when a multicast group join request is received from a client node provided with an any-source multicast management protocol, a multicast router translates the join request into a join request for a source-specific multicast group by applying a source server address of the multicast group searched from a multicast source address table on the basis of an address of an incoming line of the join request and the multicast group address designated in the join request.

Claims

1. A packet forwarding apparatus to be coupled, via a multicast network, to a first client node that cannot designate a multicast source and a second client node that can designate a multicast source, comprising:

a translating unit which translates a first request of joining to or leaving from a multicast group which is sent from the first client node, into a second request of joining to or leaving from the multicast group with designating a source of the multicast group;

a transfer unit which transfers the second request to said multicast network.

2. The packet forwarding apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an address of the source of the multicast group is determined on the basis of an address of the first client node and an address of the multicast group to which said joining or leaving request has been sent from said first client node.