Patent ID: 8789087
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An access control method for a multicast data service in which host devices request access to respective multicast groups to access corresponding streams of multicast packets, the access control method comprising: distributing multicast group access control information from a distribution device to at least one access device for use by the at least one access device in authenticating subsequent requests by individual host devices to join multicast groups to access respective multicast data streams, each access device being connected between the distribution device and at least one respective host device; receiving, by an access device, a subsequent request by one of the host devices to join a multicast group in order to access a respective stream of multicast packets; determining, by the access device, whether the host device is authorized to join the multicast group based on the access control information distributed from the distribution device; and admitting, by the access device, the host device to the multicast group if and only if the host device is determined to be authorized to join the multicast group.