Multicast system and method for utilizing the same

• US 7,664,065 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloud Network Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LU, CHI-MING
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLIFTON, JESSICA L
• Application Number:
  US11/558,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1863 comprising mechanisms for improved reliability, e.g. status reports arrangements for detecting or preventing errors by carrying supervisory signal the return channel H04L1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A multicast system is provided. The multicast system includes a multicast processing module and a multicast service module. The multicast processing module is for subscribing to the multicast service module. The multicast service module is for sending a subscribe response to the multicast processing module, and for transmitting data to the multicast processing module via a unicast frame. The multicast processing module is also for identifying a data initiator according to the subscribe response, and for receiving the data from the multicast service module in a multicast mode. A multicast method utilized in the multicast system is also provided.

Claims

1. A multicast system, comprising:

a multicast service module; and

a multicast processing module for subscribing to the multicast service module;

wherein the multicast service module sends a subscribe response to the multicast processing module, and transmits data to the multicast processing module via a unicast frame; and

the multicast processing module further identifies whether the multicast processing module itself is a data initiator according to the subscribe response, and receives the data from the multicast service module in a multicast mode if the multicast processing module is the data initiator, or receives the data from the multicast service module, by discarding unnecessary data and only keeping required data, in a promiscuous mode if the multicast processing module is not the data initiator.

2. The multicast system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multicast system has a multicast table stored therein, and the multicast service module identifies the data initiator via the multicast table.

3. The multicast system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multicast processing module is farther for communicating with the multicast service module using a native medium access control (MAC) address.

4. The multicast system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the multicast processing module is further for changing an address thereof.

5. The multicast system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the subscribe response comprises a subscribe media response.

6. A multicast method utilized in a multicast system, the multicast system comprising a multicast service module and a multicast processing module, the multicast method comprising:

the multicast processing module subscribing to the multicast service module;

the multicast service module sending a subscribe response to the multicast processing module;

the multicast processing module identifying whether the multicast processing module itself is a data initiator according to the response from the multicast service module; and

the multicast service module sending the data to the multicast processing module via a unicast frame, and the multicast processing module receiving the data from the multicast service module in a multicast mode if the multicast processing module is the data initiator, or receiving the data from the multicast service module, by discarding unnecessary data and only keeping required data, in a promiscuous mode if the multicast processing module is not the data initiator.

7. The multicast method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the multicast service module has a multicast table stored therein, and the multicast service module identifies the data initiator via the multicast table.

8. The multicast method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the multicast processing module communicating with the multicast service module using a native medium access control (MAC) address.

9. The multicast method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the step of the multicast processing module receiving the data from the multicast service module in a multicast mode comprises:

the multicast processing module changing the native MAC address;

the multicast processing module re-communicating with the multicast service module using a changed MAC address;

the multicast processing module requesting the multicast service module to send the data;

the multicast service module informing the multicast processing module whether the multicast service module agrees to send the data; and

the multicast processing module receiving the data from the multicast service module, and the multicast processing module periodically sending a keep-alive request to the multicast service module if the multicast service module agrees to send the data.

10. The multicast method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

the multicast processing module determining whether a timeout occurs;

the multicast service module informing the multicast processing module whether the multicast service module permits unsubscribing a service if the timeout occurs; and

the multicast processing module changing the changed MAC address to a native MAC address if the multicast service module permits unsubscribing the service.

11. The multicast method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of the multicast processing module receiving the data from the multicast service module in the promiscuous mode comprises:

the multicast processing module entering the promiscuous mode, and periodically sending the keep-alive request to the multicast service module;

the multicast processing module determining whether the timeout occurs;

the multicast service module informing the multicast processing module whether the multicast service module permits unsubscribing a service if the timeout occurs; and

the multicast processing module exiting the promiscuous mode if the multicast service module permits unsubscribing the service.

12. The multicast method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of the multicast processing module receiving the data from the multicast service module in the promiscuous mode further comprises:

the multicast processing module receiving a new initiator request from the multicast service module; and

the multicast processing module receiving the data from the multicast service module in the multicast mode.