Multicast address to packet identifier mapping for broadcast systems

• US 7,908,388 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Grundström, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDY
• Application Number:
  US09/990,039
• Time in Patent Office: 3,402 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/253, 709230-231, 725/143, 725/147, 725/153, 725/62, 725/109
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A mapping method for simplifying broadcast systems, such as Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial (DVB-T). Broadcast address information is mapped to the Packet Identifier (PID) field of a Motion Picture Expert Group level 2 transport stream (MPEG2-TS). Table complexity can be minimized, or the service information (SI) tables can be removed without impacting hardware level discrimination of likely relevant packets.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a data packet having both a payload segment that carries data associated with a link layer (MAC) or network layer (IP) address and a header segment that has one or more fields, the method comprising:

generating an address value based on the network layer address or link layer address at a transmitting terminal;

formatting the address value; and

populating the formatted address value into a field of the header that will be used as a selection criteria by a receiving terminal, wherein the selection criteria is established without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

construct a data packet having both a payload segment that carries data associated with a link layer (MAC) or network layer (IP) address and a header segment that has one or more fields, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being further configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

generate an address value based on the network layer address or link layer address;

format the address value; and

populate the formatted address value into a field of the header that will be used as a selection criteria by a receiving terminal, wherein the selection criteria is established without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address.

3. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for;

constructing a data packet having both a payload segment that carries data associated with a link layer (MAC) or network layer (IP) address and a header segment that has one or more fields, the constructing comprising instructions for;

generating an address value based on the network layer address or link layer address;

formatting the address value; and

populating the formatted address value into a field of the header that will be used as a selection criteria by a receiving terminal, wherein the selection criteria is established without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

select a desired data packet from a plurality of data packets, wherein each of the plurality of data packets comprises a payload segment that carries data associated with a link layer (MAC) or network layer (IP) address and a header segment that has one or more fields, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being further configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

generate an expected value for a field in the header based on the network layer address or link layer address without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address, wherein said field is used as selection criteria; and

examine the field used as selection criteria in each packet in a plurality of incoming packets so as to identify packets that contain the expected value.

5. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for;

selecting a desired data packet from a plurality of data packets, wherein each of the plurality of data packets comprises a payload segment that carries data associated with a link layer (MAC) or network layer (IP) address and a header segment that has one or more fields, the selecting comprising instructions for;

generating an expected value for a field in the header based on the network layer address or link layer address without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address, wherein said field is used as selection criteria; and

examining the field used as selection criteria in each packet in a plurality of incoming packets so as to identify packets that contain the expected value.

6. A system comprising:

a transmitting apparatus; and

a receiving apparatus;

the transmitting apparatus being configured to construct a data packet having both a payload segment that carries data associated with a link layer (MAC) or network layer (IP) address and a header segment that has one or more fields, wherein the construction further comprises the transmitting apparatus being configured to;

generate an address value based on the network layer address or link layer address;

format the address value; and

populate the formatted address value into a field of the header that will be used as a selection criteria by a receiving terminal, wherein the selection criteria is established without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address;

the receiving apparatus being configured to select a desired data packet from a plurality of data packets, wherein the selection further comprises the receiving apparatus being configured to;

generate an expected value for a field in the header based on the network layer address or link layer address without the use of tables used to link a packet identification to a multicast network layer address, wherein said field is used as selection criteria; and

examine the field used as selection criteria in each packet in a plurality of incoming packets so as to identify packets that contain the expected value.