Patent ID: 8081628

Claim:
A method for multicast communications in a multi-hop relay network, said method comprising: receiving a message requesting multicast and broadcast service along said path connection; sending, by a multi-hop relay base station, an extended request message, wherein said extended request message includes a multicast connection identification, multicast distribution tree information and a path identification, wherein said extended request message is one of a request for an addition of said path connection, a request for a deletion of said path connection and a request to change quality of service information of said path connection, and further wherein said extended request message optionally includes service flow parameters; receiving, by said multi-hop relay base station, an extended response message, wherein said extended response message is one of a response to said extended request message for an addition of a path connection, a response to said extended request message for a deletion of said path connection and a response to said extended request message to change service flow parameters of said path connection; adding said path connection to said multicast distribution tree, if said request message is for said addition of said path connection; and further wherein said adding act further comprises; determining if said request message for multicast and broadcast service can be accepted; determining if said multicast connection identification has already been assigned, if said request message for said multicast and broadcast service can be accepted; creating a multicast connection, assigning said multicast connection identification to said multicast connection and creating a multicast distribution tree if said multicast connection identification has not already been assigned; determining if said path connection is already included in said multicast distribution tree, if said multicast connection identification has already been assigned; updating said multicast tree information if said path connection is included in said multicast distribution tree information; attempting to bind said path connection to said multicast connection identification; determining if said path connection has been bound to said multicast connection identification; sending a multicast and broadcast service denial message if one of said path connection has not been bound to said multicast connection identification and said request message for said multicast and broadcast service cannot be accepted; and adding said path connection to said multicast distribution tree; recording a number of end devices and identification information for said end devices that require said multicast and broadcast service; sending a response message; and receiving an acknowledgment.