MULTICAST ACCESS CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD IN IP MULTICAST COMMUNICATION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a content distribution side to have leadership of controlling propriety of viewing for content viewers in multicast content distribution in an IP network. SOLUTION: A content provider side controls blocking/release of transfer of a multicast content distribution request signal (IGMP protocol) transmitted by client terminals at a layer 2 switch 5 to which the client terminals utilized by the content viewers are connected. When the viewer requests multicast content viewing, the client terminal informs an authentication server about an IP address and a port identifier of the layer 2 switch to which the client terminal is connected, and when authentication is approved, a layer 2 control server 2 individually controls the port of the switch in a state capable of transferring the multicast content distribution request signal. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT