System and method for reliable multicast data distribution over an unreliable packet switched network

Abstract

A system, computer program and method to multicast messages to workstations in a network (). The system uses an MDP database table () which stores the parameters used to manage transmission and reception of multicast messages in the network (). An MDP server initialization module () executing on a server reads the parameters from the MDP database table () and initialize an MDP session. The system also uses an MDP client initialization module () to read the necessary parameters in the MDP database table () and initialize an MDP session in a client workstation that receives multicast messages. An MDP server operations module () is used to receive requests to transmit messages and transmit repair packets to a workstation designated as action workstations when a negative acknowledgment is received. An MDP client operations module () receives messages transmitted by the MDP server operations module only transmits a negative acknowledgment to a server upon receipt of an MDP information packet if the workstation is designated as an info only workstation in the MDP information packet.