EP0575281A2
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EP
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Multicast communication tree creation and control method and apparatus
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-05-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-05-19
Abstract
Abstract In a multicast network communication system, administration of the communication path making up the multicast tree itself has been separated from control and administration of the network. Creation of a multicast distribution tree and control over the membership thereof, is separately controlled independently from the creation and use of the tree transmission path used to communicate among the members of a multicast set. Transmission distribution trees are set up when a transmission request is received and the properties of the transmission path that is required are known. Transmission paths are created and controlled by all nodes in the communications system, each node having necessary control code and processors for responding to requests from set members to transmit a message to groups of users by creating and activating the necessary tree communication path distribution linkages. A distribution tree is created by the Tree Leader by generating a tree address using a random number generator. A tree address correlator is generated utilizing network and node identifiers unique for the network, and a list of subnodes or users connected for each member of the multicast tree set is generated. Using this information, a tree distribution path is computed to cover all of the subnodes required and a tree set up request message is sent by the Tree Leader along a computed path to each involved subnode. Each subnode returns a message indicating whether the tree address is already in use or is available for use. Successfully negotiated tree addresses are marked at the path link initiation and termination points at each node through the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Joshua Seth Auerbach
- 👤 Chee-Seng Chow
- 👤 Marcia Lambert Peters
- 👤 John Ellis Drake, Jr.
- 👤 Prabandham Madan Gopal
- 👤 Elizabeth Anne Hervatic
- 👤 Marc Adam Kaplan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04L45/74; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1854; H04L12/185; H04L12/1863; H04L12/1877; H04L45/48; H04L45/484
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A communications network having a plurality of nodes interconnected to one another by communications links, via which links messages may be sent and delivered to one or more communication network users located at one or more of said nodes, said network being organized for communications among members of a defined subset of said users into one or more distribution trees, wherein each said node comprises: means for operating as a Distribution Tree Leader for said subset, said Distribution Tree Leader means including first means for generating a Distribution tree address; second means for generating a Distribution tree address correlation identifier which, when combined with said Distribution tree address, uniquely identifies said Distribution tree at all said nodes having members of said subset included by said Distribution Tree Leader in said Distribution tree; third means for generating and sending to all said nodes having members served by said Distribution tree, a Distribution tree creation request message; fourth means for receiving said Distribution tree creation request message and, responsive thereto, for generating and sending a reply indicating whether said Distribution tree address is currently in use at said node and an indication of what Distribution tree addresses are currently available for use at said node; fifth means responsive to replies from said nodes for enabling the distribution of messages to all said nodes included in said Distribution tree using an address not in conflict with any of said replies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The network as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising: sixth means at each said node for associating said tree address not in conflict with said replies with the outbound said communications links included in said Distribution tree at said node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: said first means further comprises a random number generator for generating said Distribution tree address.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network as claimed in Claim 2, wherein: said first means further comprises a random number generator for generating said Distribution tree address.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network of any of Claims 1 through 4, wherein: said address correlation identifier comprises the node identification of said node at which said Tree Leader resides and an arbitrary counter value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The network as claimed in any of Claims 1 through 4, wherein: said fifth means, upon receiving a said reply indicating that a said address is currently in use at any node, utilizes said indications received of currently available tree addresses at said nodes, and chooses a new tree address from said available addresses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A Distribution Tree Leader for use at any node in a plural interconnected node network, comprising: first means for generating a Distribution tree address; second means for generating a Distribution tree address correlation identifier which, in combination with said Distribution tree address, uniquely identifies said Distribution tree at all of said nodes included by said Distribution Tree Leader in said Distribution tree; third means for generating and sending to all of said nodes having users served by said Distribution tree, a Distribution tree creation request message; fourth means for receiving said Distribution tree creation request message and, responsive thereto, for generating and sending a reply indicating whether said Distribution tree address is currently in use at said node and an indication of what Distribution tree addresses are currently available for use at said node; fifth means responsive to said to replies from said nodes for enabling the distribution of messages to all of said nodes included in said Distribution tree using a said address not in conflict with any of said replies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A Distribution Tree Leader as claimed in Claim 7, further comprising: sixth means at each said node for associating said tree address not in conflict with said replies with the outbound said communications links included in said Distribution tree at said node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A Distribution Tree Leader as claimed in Claim 7, wherein: said first means further comprises a random number generator for generating said Distribution tree address.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A Distribution Tree Leader as claimed in Claim 8, wherein: said first means further comprises a random number generator for generating said Distribution tree address.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A Distribution Tree Leader as claimed in any one of Claims 7 through 10, wherein: said fifth means, upon receiving a said reply indicating that a said Distribution tree address is currently in use at a said node, utilizes said indications of said currently available Distribution tree addresses to choose a new Distribution address.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of managing a communications network having a plurality of nodes interconnected to one another by communication links via which messages may be sent and delivered to one or more users located at one or more of said nodes, wherein said network is organized for communication among members of a defined subset of said users into one or more Distributions trees, said method comprising steps of: selecting a Distribution Tree Leader for said subset; generating at said Tree Leader, a Distribution tree address; generating a Distribution tree address correlation identifier and combining said identifier with said Distribution tree address to uniquely identify said Distribution tree for said subset in said network; generating and sending over said network links to all said nodes having users served by said Distribution tree, a Distribution tree creation request message; receiving said Distribution tree creation request message and generating and sending a reply message indicating whether said Distribution tree address is currently in use and an indication of what Distribution tree addresses are currently available for use at each receiving node; in conflict with any of said replies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of Claim 12, further comprising steps of: assigning said unique Distribution tree address to each said communication link at each said node in said network which is a part of said Distribution tree for said subset of users.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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