US6427166B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for routing and congestion control in multicast networks
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 2000-09-22
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Granted: 2002-07-30
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Expires: 2020-09-22
Abstract
Abstract An embodiment consistent with the present invention includes a method and apparatus for distributing multicast data. The method may be performed by a data processor and comprises the steps of forming a multicast repair tree including a sender, a plurality of heads, and a plurality of receivers, wherein at least one head is associated with the sender and at least one receiver is associated with the head; sending, by a sender to the plurality of heads and the plurality of receivers, a plurality of multicast messages at a data rate; receiving, by the sender from one of the plurality of heads, a congestion status associated with a receiver of the head; and slowing the data rate, by the sender, in accordance with the congestion status.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Hurst
- 👤 Joseph Wesley
- 👤 Stephen R. Hanna
- 👤 Miriam C. Kadansky
- 👤 Philip M. Rosenzweig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/12; H04L1/16; H04L1/18; H04L1/1867; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/185; H04L12/1863; H04L2001/0092; H04L2001/0093; H04L2001/0097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of distributing multicast data, comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; beginning, by the head, in response to receiving the multicast message, to monitor a plurality of receivers associated with the head to determine if any of the receivers are candidates for pruning; and pruning, by the head, if the receiver is a pruning candidate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of distributing multicast data, comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; beginning, by the head, in response to receiving the multicast message, to monitor a plurality of receivers associated with the head to determine if any of the receivers are candidates for pruning; and pruning, by the head, if the receiver is a pruning candidate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the beginning to monitor includes determining whether any of the plurality of receivers is slow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the beginning to monitor includes determining whether any of the plurality of receivers has requested excessive repairs from the head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the beginning to monitor includes determining whether any of the plurality of receivers is not responsive.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of distributing multicast data comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; and pruning, by the head, in response to the multicast message, the receivers.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of distributing multicast data comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; and pruning, by the head, in response to the multicast message, the receivers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the pruning the receiver includes sending a disowned message to the pruned receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the pruning the receiver includes indicating that the head should not respond to a repair request from the receiver in the future.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for a computer to prune receivers, the instructions comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; beginning, by the head, in response to receiving the multicast message, to monitor a plurality of receivers associated with the head to determine if any of the receivers are candidates for pruning; and pruning, by the head, if the receiver is a pruning candidate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for a computer to prune receivers, the instructions comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; beginning, by the head, in response to receiving the multicast message, to monitor a plurality of receivers associated with the head to determine if any of the receivers are candidates for pruning; and pruning, by the head, if the receiver is a pruning candidate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the beginning to monitor includes determining whether any of the plurality of receivers is slow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the beginning to monitor includes determining whether any of the plurality of receivers has requested excessive repairs from the head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the beginning to monitor includes determining whether any of the plurality of receivers is not responsive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A head in a multicast system, comprising: means for receiving, from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; means for beginning, in response to receiving the multicast message, to monitor a plurality of receivers associated with the head to determine if any of the receivers are candidates for pruning; and means for pruning if the receiver is a pruning candidate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A head in a multicast system, comprising: means for receiving, from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; means for beginning, in response to receiving the multicast message, to monitor a plurality of receivers associated with the head to determine if any of the receivers are candidates for pruning; and means for pruning if the receiver is a pruning candidate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for a computer to prune receivers, the instructions comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; and pruning, by the head, in response to the multicast message, the receivers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for a computer to prune receivers, the instructions comprising: receiving, by a head from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; and pruning, by the head, in response to the multicast message, the receivers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the pruning the receiver includes sending a disowned message to the pruned receiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the pruning the receiver includes indicating that the head should not respond to a repair request from the receiver in the future.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A head in a multicast system, comprising: means for receiving, from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; and means for pruning in response to the multicast message, the receivers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A head in a multicast system, comprising: means for receiving, from a sender, a multicast message having a prune indicator set, the prune indicator set based on a congestion feedback; and means for pruning in response to the multicast message, the receivers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-29 | 2006-01-28 | 2006-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-29 | 2010-01-28 | 2010-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-29 | 2014-01-28 | 2014-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |