초록 ▼

A network ed system of multicast-unicast gateways receives multicast information from a multicast host. A first MUG receives a multicast session request from a unicast host. The first MUG sends a message to other MUGs with a unicast host identifier. Each MUG that receives the message determines if i

A network ed system of multicast-unicast gateways receives multicast information from a multicast host. A first MUG receives a multicast session request from a unicast host. The first MUG sends a message to other MUGs with a unicast host identifier. Each MUG that receives the message determines if it is designated to serve as the multicast-unicast gateway for the requesting unicast host. A MUG is designated if it is disposed to more efficiently act as a multicast-unicast gateway for the requesting unicast host. If it is, it sends a designation message to the first MUG, which reroutes the unicast host request to the designated MUG. If a designated MUG is identified, then the designated MUG acts as the multicast-unicast gateway for the unicast host. Otherwise, a default MUG acts as the gateway. This more efficiently uses network resources in managing the exchange of information between multicast and unicast hosts.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for managing the exchange of information between a multicast host and a unicast host, comprising the steps of:a. receiving a multicast session request from the unicast host;b. determining if a first multicast-unicast gateway is designated to serve as the multicas

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for managing the exchange of information between a multicast host and a unicast host, comprising the steps of:a. receiving a multicast session request from the unicast host;b. determining if a first multicast-unicast gateway is designated to serve as the multicast-unicast interface for the unicast host; andc. if the first multicast-unicast gateway is not designated to serve as the multicast-unicast interface for the unicast host, then:i. sending a unicast host identifier to a second multicast-unicast gateway;ii. if a designation message including an identifier of a multicast-unicast gateway that is designated for the unicast host is received at the first multicast-unicast gateway, then sending a redirect message from the first multicast-unicast gateway to the unicast host that includes an identifier of the designated multicast-unicast gateway; andiii. if a designation message is not received at the first multicast-unicast gateway, then determining the identity of a default multicast-unicast gateway that is designated to serve as the multicast-unicast gateway for the unicast host.