System and Method for Communicating Among Multicast Transceivers

Abstract

A group identifier can be used to assign blocks of addresses to the various groups of transmitters and receivers communicating on a single wired LAN. For example, a form-based control (e.g., a text entry box, a radio button, a drop-down box, a list box or a combo box) can be provided in a form controlled by a web server internal to the transmitter. The form enables a configuring user to specify to which of multiple (e.g., 4) groups a transmitter and its receivers (e.g., specified by MAC address) are going to belong. The transmitter thereafter can select its own IP address (based on the group number) and the known range of IP addresses available for its receivers. Once the IP addresses have been assigned to the transmitter and receivers, the transmitter can send (1) control data to the receivers at their receiver-specific IP addresses and (2) AV data to their multicast address.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.