Patent ID: 8966100
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing access control information in a communication network for managing access by a subscriber device to a multicast group, the method comprising: obtaining access control information by a main device; sending the access control information by the main device to a plurality of access control devices using a reliable multicast mechanism, the access control information including at least one policy block, the policy block including a multicast group address field, a sequence number field and a number of user blocks identifying authorized users for the multicast group; in response to a join request sent from the subscriber device to an access device which is in direct communication with the subscriber device, generating a policy service request message and sending the policy service request message from the access device to one of the access control devices; in response to receipt of the policy service request message by the access control device, determining a policy decision for the subscriber device based on the access control information received from the main device, and sending a corresponding policy service decision message to the access device; and implementing the policy decision with the access device.