MAC based mapping in IP based communications
First Claim
1. An apparatus for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:
- a first network interface to receive a series of multicast data packets from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) server, the series of multicast data packets corresponding to a video stream addressed to a group of one or more receiving nodes in a wireless network;
a processor and memory to convert the received series of multicast data packets into one or more unicast packets, wherein the series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast data packets addressed to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network, and wherein the multicast data packets are converted in accordance with a map of media access control (MAC) addresses corresponding to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network; and
a second network interface to wirelessly transmit the one or more unicast data packets to the one or more receiving nodes using an 802.x protocol, wherein the effective unicast rate for the one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using the 802.x protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An access point of a communications network receives a multicast or broadcast packet from a source. The access point converts the multicast or broadcast packet into a unicast packet addressed to a station associated with the access point. The access point then transmits the unicast packet over the communications network from the access point to the station. The access point further may determine a minimum data rate by which the access point may transmit the multicast or broadcast packet to the station and determines an effective unicast rate for transmitting the unicast packet to the station. If the effective unicast rate does not exceed the minimum data rate, the access point does not transmit the unicast packet to the station and transmits the multicast or broadcast packet.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:
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a first network interface to receive a series of multicast data packets from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) server, the series of multicast data packets corresponding to a video stream addressed to a group of one or more receiving nodes in a wireless network; a processor and memory to convert the received series of multicast data packets into one or more unicast packets, wherein the series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast data packets addressed to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network, and wherein the multicast data packets are converted in accordance with a map of media access control (MAC) addresses corresponding to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network; and a second network interface to wirelessly transmit the one or more unicast data packets to the one or more receiving nodes using an 802.x protocol, wherein the effective unicast rate for the one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using the 802.x protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer readable-storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program executable by a processor to provide a method for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network, the method comprising:
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receiving a series of multicast data packets from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) server, the series of multicast data packets corresponding to a video stream addressed to a group of one or more receiving nodes in a wireless network; converting the received series of multicast data packets into one or more unicast packets, wherein the series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast data packets addressed to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network, and wherein the multicast data packets are converted in accordance with a map of media access control (MAC) addresses corresponding to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network; and transmitting the one or more unicast data packets to the one or more receiving nodes using an 802.x protocol, wherein the effective unicast rate for the one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using the 802.x protocol.
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12. A method for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network, the method comprising:
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receiving a series of multicast data packets from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) server at a first network interface, the series of multicast data packets corresponding to a video stream addressed to a group of one or more receiving nodes in a wireless network; converting the received series of multicast data packets into one or more unicast packets through use of a processor and memory, wherein the series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast data packets addressed to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network, and wherein the multicast data packets are converted in accordance with a map of media access control (MAC) addresses corresponding to the one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network; and wirelessly transmitting the one or more unicast data packets to the one or more receiving nodes using an 802.x protocol at a second network interface, wherein the effective unicast rate for the one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using the 802.x protocol. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification