User Multicast Table for Network Access Device Channel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multicast service management in network access devices is inefficient, particularly during channel switching, as existing methods either prioritize new users over existing ones or require lengthy General Membership Query processes, leading to delayed response times and resource inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for multicast management that utilizes a user multicast information table to track user identification and multicast states, allowing for dynamic access control and quick-leaving processes, thereby optimizing channel switching performance without affecting ongoing services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the latest-request-first rule is used for channel switching, then the leaving speed is high, but the system priority affects the multicast service the user originally requested and one user entering affects other users on the same interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interface-level multicast management into user-level management by introducing a user-multicast group correspondence relationship. Instead of managing multicast groups at the interface level only, the system creates individual user entries that track which users belong to which multicast groups, allowing independent control for each user without affecting others on the same interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a user-multicast group correspondence table as an intermediary data structure between the interface and multicast groups. This intermediary layer enables the system to track user-specific multicast memberships separately, allowing precise control over which users receive which multicast streams without the latest-request-first rule's blanket effects on all users.
2Reliability
If the General Membership Query process is used to check for users on the interface, then the system can determine if other users are receiving data, but it requires a period of response time and generates a great amount of IGMP protocol packet interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by maintaining up-to-date user-multicast group correspondence relationships in the user multicast information table. When a user leaves a multicast group, the system proactively updates this table to reflect the current membership status, so that when channel switching occurs, the system already has accurate information without needing to perform GMQ queries to determine user presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where IGMP leave messages from users are captured and processed to update the user-multicast group correspondence relationships. This feedback loop ensures the system maintains real-time knowledge of user memberships, eliminating the need for GMQ queries to verify user presence during channel switching.
3Speed
If the quick-leave approach is used for IGMPv2 users, then the leaving speed is high, but when there are multiple users on the same interface, leaving of one user affects other users' ability to use the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast group management at the interface level into user-level management by creating individual user entries in the user multicast information table. Each user's multicast memberships are tracked separately, allowing the system to remove one user from a multicast group without affecting other users on the same interface. This segmentation enables quick-leave processing for individual users while maintaining service continuity for others.
4Productivity
If the system deletes the interface from the multicast group when a user leaves, then the leaving speed is high, but the previous multicast data stream stops and interface resources are not released efficiently when users switch channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource management where the system continuously monitors user multicast memberships in the user multicast information table. When users leave multicast groups or switch channels, the system dynamically updates the table and only stops multicast data streams when the multicast group becomes completely empty at the interface level. This dynamic approach ensures interface resources are released efficiently while maintaining service for remaining users.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for multicast management of user interface in a network access device, which comprises setting a user multicast information table for the user interface in the network access device, IGMP protocol processing unit obtaining the user identification information from a user IGMP message, retrieving and updating the user multicast information table based on types of multicast messages; checking the user multicast information table of the user interface when multicast resources of the user interface are not sufficient, immediately terminating the multicast GSQ process and directly performing quick-leaving when the user multicast information table of a multicast group is empty, in conjunction with use of items of multicast state. The present invention can greatly enhance speed and performance of switching for multicast channels of the network access device.