Dynamic assignment of multicast network addresses
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorPeter C. Hayden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multicast addresses on a computer network are dynamically assigned to a temporary node task. In particular, a server dynamically assigns a multicast address to a data stream in response to a request for the data stream from a client. The server assigns the multicast address in cooperation with other servers from a pool of network-allocated but unassigned multicast addresses. Once the data stream is terminated, the assigned multicast address is deassigned and returned to the pool of unassigned multicast addresses for possible reuse by the nodes.
Claims65
On a computer network, a method of assigning a multicast address to a data stream for communicating content over the computer network, comprising:
- grouping a plurality of unused multicast addresses into a pool;
- and
- assigning a multicast address from the pool to a data stream without regard to the content of the data stream.
On a computer network, a system for assigning a multicast address to a data stream for communicating content over the computer network, comprising:
- a plurality of unused multicast addresses grouped into a pool;
- and
- an assignment function for assigning a multicast address from the pool to a data stream without regard to the content of the data stream.
In a network of computers interconnected by a network structure that includes a plurality of allocated multicast addresses, a method of assigning a multicast address to a data stream for propagation content through the network structure, comprising:
- identifying a plurality of allocated multicast addresses that are not being used by any computer on the network;
- grouping the identified unused multicast addresses into a pool;
- in response to a request for a multicast address to communicate a data stream, removing a multicast address from the pool without regard to the content of the data stream;
- and
- assigning the removed multicast address to the data stream.
In a network of computers interconnected by a network structure that includes a plurality of allocated multicast addresses, a method of associating a multicast address with a data stream for propagating content through the network structure, comprising:
- associating an unused multicast address with a data stream without regard to the content of the data stream.
On a computer network, a system of assigning a multicast address to a data stream for communicating content over the computer network, comprising:
- a means for grouping a plurality of unused multicast addresses into a pool;
- and
- a means for assigning a multicast address from the pool to a data stream without regard to the content of the data stream.
In a network of computers interconnected by a network structure that includes a plurality of allocated multicast addresses, a system for assigning a multicast address to a data stream for communicating content through the network structure, comprising:
- an identification function for identifying a plurality of allocated multicast addresses that are not being used by any computer on the network;
- a pool function for grouping the identified unused multicast addresses into a pool;
- a removal function responsive to a request for a multicast address to communicate a data stream for removing a multicast address from the pool without regard to the content of the data stream;
- and
- an assignment function for assigning the removed multicast address to the data stream.
In a network of computers interconnected by a network structure that includes a plurality of allocated multicast addresses, a system for associating a multicast address with a data stream for communicating content through the network structure, comprising:
- a system for associating an unused multicast address with a data stream without regard to the content of the data stream.
In a network of computers interconnected by a network structure that includes a plurality of allocated multicast addresses, a system for assigning a multicast address to a data stream for communicating content through the network structure, comprising:
- a means for identifying a plurality of allocated multicast addresses that are not being used by any computer on the network;
- a means for grouping the identified unused multicast addresses into a pool;
- a means, responsive to a request for a multicast address to communicate a data stream, for removing a multicast address from the pool without regard to the content of the data stream;
- and
- a means for assigning the removed multicast address to the data stream.
In a network of computers interconnected by a network structure that includes a plurality of allocated multicast addresses, a system for associating a multicast address with a data stream for communicating content through the network structure, comprising:
- associating an unused multicast address with a data stream without regard to the content of the data stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.