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Enabling multicast distribution efficiencies in a dialup access environment

  • US 6,097,720 A
  • Filed: 04/07/1998
  • Issued: 08/01/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a system including a network having one or more intermediate devices coupled to end stations by respective links, including a multicast source end station and a plurality of multicast receiving end stations coupled to an intermediate device in the network, a method for distributing multicast distribution functions to the intermediate device, comprising:

  • establishing point-to-point sessions between the source end station and the plurality of receiving end stations according to a communication protocol;

    establishing a point-to-point session between the source end station and the intermediate device by which the source end station feeds multicast messages to the intermediate device directed to a set of multicast groups;

    transmitting from end stations in the plurality of receiving end stations to the intermediate device respective multicast join messages, the multicast join messages including information identifying one or more multicast groups for the respective receiving end stations to join, so that the intermediate device is enabled to forward multicast messages directed to a particular multicast group in the set of multicast groups to the receiving end stations which have joined the particular multicast group; and

    forwarding multicast messages received at the intermediate station in the point-to-point session between the multicast source and the intermediate device, and directed to a particular multicast group in the set of multicast groups from the intermediate device to the receiving end stations which have joined the particular multicast group.

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