Apparatus and method for limiting unauthorized access to a network multicast
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorThomas Hardjono
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for limiting unauthorized access to a multicast by one or more members of a subnet reconfigures the multicast if all subnet members participating in the multicast do not reply to a query message. To that end, the apparatus first receives a query message requesting the identity of all subnet members that are participating in the multicast. Upon receipt, the query message is forwarded to each subnet member that is participating in the multicast. Receipt of the message by selected subnet members participating in the multicast causes a reply message to be forwarded. It then is determined if a reply message has been forwarded by all subnet members participating in the multicast.
Claims23
A method of limiting unauthorized access by one or more members of a subnet to a multicast transmitted across a network, the subnet having one or more subnet members participating in the multicast, the method comprising:
- receiving a query message requesting the identity of all subnet members that are participating in the multicast;
- forwarding the query message to each electrically present subnet member that is participating in the multicast, receipt of the query message causing a reply message to be forwarded by selected subnet members participating in the multicast;
- determining if a reply message has been forwarded by all subnet members participating in the multicast;
- and
- reconfiguring the multicast if it is determined that a reply message has not been forwarded by at least one unauthorized but valid subnet member participating in the multicast.
An apparatus for limiting unauthorized access by one or more members of a subnet to a multicast transmitted across a network, the subnet having one or more subnet members participating in the multicast, the apparatus comprising:
- an input for receiving a query message requesting the identity of all valid subnet members that are participating in the multicast;
- a message forwarder that forwards the query message to each authorized and unauthorized subnet member that is valid and is participating in the multicast, receipt of the query message causing a reply message to be forwarded by selected subnet members participating in the multicast;
- a reply message collector that determines if a reply message has been forwarded by all valid subnet members participating in the multicast;
- and
- a reconfiguration module that reconfigures the multicast if it is determined that a reply message has not been forwarded by all subnet members participating in the multicast.
A method of limiting unauthorized access by one or more members of a subnet to a multicast transmitted across a network, the subnet having one or more valid and authorized subnet members participating in the multicast, the method comprising:
- forwarding a query message requesting the identity of all valid authorized and unauthorized subnet members that are participating in the multicast, receipt of the query message causing a reply message to be forwarded by selected subnet members participating in the multicast, a given reply message being forwarded by a given member, the given reply message having identification data identifying the given member;
- locating the identification data in the given reply message;
- and
- reconfiguring the multicast if the given valid member is not an authorized member of the multicast.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.