Patent ID: 6385200
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A broadcast control system for controlling broadcast message distribution in an ATM network which is organized by a plurality of network elements and at least one service provider terminal connected to a source network element among the plurality of network elements, each network element having a plurality of links that extend to other network elements, the service provider terminal being a source of a broadcast cell, the broadcast control system comprising:broadcast routing control cell transmission means, disposed in the source network element, for distributing a broadcast routing control cell containing reception link decision data to the plurality of network elements; control cell relaying means, disposed in each of the plurality of network elements and activated when the broadcast routing control cell is received via one of the plurality of links, for modifying the reception link decision data contained in the received broadcast routing control cell, and transmitting the broadcast routing control cell with the modified reception link decision data through the plurality of links except for the one of the plurality of links used to receive the broadcast routing control cell; link selection & storage means, disposed in each of the plurality of network elements and activated when a plurality of broadcast routing control cells have been received via different routes, for selecting a particular link from among the plurality of links, based on the reception link decision data contained in each broadcast routing control cell received, and storing a record of a combination of the particular link and the source network element which distributed the plurality of broadcast routing control cells; and broadcast cell relaying means, disposed in each of the plurality of network elements, for receiving the broadcast cell through one of the plurality of links, identifying a network element that has distributed the broadcast cell, and transmitting the broadcast cell through the rest of the plurality of links if said link selection & storage means has a record that matches with a combination of the network element identified as the sender of the broadcast cell and the one of the plurality of links that was used to receive the broadcast cell.