METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRANSMITTING BROADCAST DATA

Abstract

The present invention discloses methods and systems for transmitting broadcast data at a communication gateway. When the communication gateway receives a broadcast packet from a host or node, the communication gateway determines whether the broadcast packet satisfies at least one condition. If the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition, it is determined whether or not to modify a time to live (TTL) value. The TTL value of the broadcast packet is modified if it is determined to modify the TTL value. The broadcast packet is then forwarded to the destination address of the broadcast packet based on the TTL value. The destination address is reachable through an interconnected network.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting broadcast data at a communication gateway, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a broadcast packet from a host or node; (b) determining whether the broadcast packet satisfies at least one condition; when the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition: (c) determining whether or not to modify a time to live (TTL) value; (d) modifying the TTL value if determined to modify the TTL value; (e) forwarding the broadcast packet to a destination address of the broadcast packet based on the TTL value of the broadcast packet; wherein the destination address is reachable through an interconnected network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is based on one or more of source address, destination address, and port number of the broadcast packet.

3. The method of claim 4, further comprising encapsulating the broadcast packet in an Internet Protocol (IP) packet before forwarding the broadcast packet to the destination address in step (e).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast packet is used for broadcast data including one or more of a service advertisement, a service request, a response to a service request, a response to a service advertisement, a presence indicator, and a message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) is performed if TTL of the broadcast packet has expired or is about to be expired.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying other fields of the broadcast packet before performing step (e) if the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the other fields comprising at least one of destination address and source address of the broadcast packet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding is performed through an aggregated virtual private network (VPN) connection.

9. A method for transmitting broadcast data at a communication gateway, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a broadcast packet from a host or a node; (b) determining whether the broadcast packet satisfies at least one condition; when the broadcast packet does not satisfy the at least one condition: (c) forwarding the broadcast packet to a destination address regardless of TTL value of the broadcast packet; when the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition: (d) determining whether or not TTL of the broadcast packet has expired; (e) forwarding the broadcast packet if the TTL of the broadcast packet has not expired; (f) not forwarding the broadcast packet if the TTL of the broadcast packet has expired.

10. A communication gateway capable of transmitting broadcast data comprising: a plurality of network interfaces; at least one processing unit; at least one main memory; at least one secondary storage storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for the steps of: (a) receiving a broadcast packet from a host or node; (b) determining whether the broadcast packet satisfies at least one condition; when the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition: (c) determining whether or not to modify a time to live (TTL) value; (d) modifying the TTL value if determined to modify the TTL value; (e) forwarding the broadcast packet to a destination address of the broadcast packet based on the TTL value of the broadcast packet; wherein the destination address is reachable through an interconnected network.

11. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein the at least one condition is based on one or more of source address, destination address, and port number of the broadcast packet.

12. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein the secondary storage further stores program instructions for encapsulating the broadcast packet in an IP packet before forwarding the broadcast packet to the destination address in step (e).

13. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein the broadcast packet is used for broadcast data including one or more of a service advertisement, a service request, a response to a service request, a response to a service advertisement, a presence indicator, and a message.

14. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein step (d) is performed if TTL of the broadcast packet has expired or is about to be expired.

15. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein the secondary storage further stores program instructions for modifying other fields of the broadcast packet before performing step (e), if the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition.

16. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein the other fields comprising at least one of destination address and source address of the broadcast packet.

17. The communication gateway of claim 10, wherein forwarding is performed through an aggregated virtual private network (VPN) connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0080] FIG. 1 illustrates a system adapted according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0081] FIG. 2A is a flow-chart illustrating a process showing how a communication gateway forwards a service advertisement according to one of the embodiments;

[0082] FIG. 2B is a flow-chart illustrating a process showing how a communication gateway forwards a service advertisement according to one of the embodiments;

[0083] FIG. 3A illustrates structure of broadcast data according to one of the embodiments;

[0084] FIG. 3B illustrates structure of broadcast data according to one of the embodiments;

[0085] FIG. 3C illustrates structure of broadcast data according to one of the embodiments;

[0086] FIG. 3D illustrates structure of broadcast data according to one of the embodiments;

[0087] FIG. 4 illustrates a system for transmitting broadcast data adapted according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0088] FIG. 5 illustrates a system for transmitting broadcast data adapted according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0089] FIG. 6 is an illustrative block diagram of a communications gateway according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0090] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process for forwarding a broadcast packet according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0091] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process for forwarding a broadcast packet according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0092] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process for forwarding a broadcast packet according to one of the embodiments of the present invention.