Method and apparatus for transmitting parameters to multicast agent in relayed multicast network

A multicast agent which receives session-related parameters from a session manager in a relayed multicast network, the multicast agent comprising:

• a reception unit that receives, from the session manager, control data containing at least one of a T_PPROBE field, an N_PPROBE field, a T_HB field, a N_HB field, a T_HSOLICIT field, an N_HSOLICIT field, a T_HANNOUNCE field, a N_HANNOUNCE field, a T_RELAY field, an N_RELAY field, and a T_LEAVE field that carry the session-related parameters;
• and
• a processor unit that controls session maintenance based on the session-related parameters contained in the control data.

A method by which a session manager transmits session-related parameters to a multicast agent in a relayed multicast network, the method comprising:

• generating control data containing at least one of a T_PPROBE field, an N_PPROBE field, a T_HB field, a N_HB field, a T_HSOLICIT field, an N_HSOLICIT field, a T_HANNOUNCE field, a N_HANNOUNCE field, a T_RELAY field, an N_RELAY field, and a T_LEAVE field that carry the session-related parameters, to a parameter previously determined for the multicast agent's operation;
• and
• transmitting the generated control data to the multicast agent.

A method by which a multicast agent receives session-related parameters from a session manager in a relayed multicast network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the session manager, control data containing at least one of a T_PPROBE field, an N_PPROBE field, a T_HB field, a N_HB field, a T_HSOLICIT field, an N_HSOLICIT field, a T_HANNOUNCE field, a N_HANNOUNCE field, a T_RELAY field, an N_RELAY field, and a T_LEAVE field that carry the session-related parameters;
• and
• controlling session maintenance based on the session-related parameters contained in the control data.