Facilitating IP-based multicasting control connections
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorStefan Keller-Tuberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast control system. In accordance with such IP multicast control system, the IP multicast control system includes a first module capable of facilitating IP multicast control connections between a first apparatus and a second apparatus and a second module capable of enabling termination of a control protocol of the first module. The second module is capable of being supported at an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) layer of the second apparatus.
Claims34
An Internet Protocol (IP) multicast control system, comprising:
- a first module facilitating IP multicast control connections between a first apparatus and a second apparatus;
- the first apparatus further includes:
- a module controlling a plurality of network elements of the first apparatus;
- a module supporting communication with at least one subtending network node of the first apparatus;
- and
- a module supporting communication with at least one Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) apparatus;
- and
- each one of said modules is interconnected with each other one of said modules;
- and
- a second module enabling termination of a control protocol of the first module and supported at an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) layer of the second apparatus.
A communication apparatus, comprising:
- a first network node including an Internet Protocol (IP) Gateway Module and a Digital Subscriber Line Multiplexer (DSLAM);
- the DSLAM includes an IP layer;
- the IP Gateway Module is a network element of the DSLAM;
- and
- a second network node including a Gateway Control Protocol Terminating Module;
- wherein the IP Gateway Module facilitates IP multicast control connections between the first network node and the second network node and wherein the Gateway Control Protocol Terminating Module enables termination of a control protocol of the IP Gateway Module and is supported at an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) layer of the second network node.
A method for facilitating Internet Protocol (IP) multicast services within a deployed network of network elements, comprising:
- implementing, at an IP layer of a first network node, functionality controlling multicast connections between the first network node and a second network node an IP Gateway control protocol, wherein the first network node includes a Subscriber Line Multiplexer (DSLAM), the IP layer is integral with the DSLAM, and implementing said functionality controlling multicast connections includes implementing said functionality at the IP layer of the DSLAM;
- and
- implementing, at an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) layer of the second network node, functionality terminating the IP Gateway control protocol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.