The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2001
Filed:
May. 06, 1997
Fan Zhou, Cranberry, PA (US);
Jon C. R. Bennett, Ambrigde, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a multicast system. The system comprises an ATM network. The system comprises a source connected to the ATM network. The system also comprises a first destination connected to the ATM network. The system comprises at least a second destination connected to the ATM network. Additionally, the system comprises a mechanism for adding or dropping connections dynamically between the first source and any destinations at any time. The present invention pertains to a method for multicasting ATM cells. The method comprises the steps of forming a first connection between a first source and a first destination for transmitting a first ATM cell therebetween. Next, there is be step of forming a second connection between the first source and a second destination while the first connection exists. Then there is the step of terminating the first connection while the second connection exists. The present invention pertains to a method for multicasting ATM cells. The method comprises the steps of forming a first connection between a first source and a first destination. Next there is the step of obtaining a first ATM cell to the transmitted out the first source. Next there is the step of forming a second connection between a first source and a second destination while the first connection exists and after the first ATM cell has been obtained.