MULTICAST DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multicast communication system wherein a sender can confirm the availability of a transmitter side packet converter in the case of utilizing a one to multi broadcast type application through multicast tunneling in a broadband IP network and can attain communication by the tunneling without the need for knowing addresses of an address management server and of the transmitter side packet converter or the like. SOLUTION: An address registration apparatus installed in the same sub net as that of a multicast server transmits an address registration request to a multicast address representing the entire system on the same sub net. When the transmitter side packet converter is installed in the same sub net, the transmitter side packet converter receives the registration request and appends the request to an address of the converter itself, and transfers the result to the address management server, which registers the request. The transmitter side packet converter transmits a registration response to the registration apparatus at the same time and informs the registration apparatus that the transmitter side packet converter is installed in the same sub net as that of the registration apparatus and the use of the tunneling system is available. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI