APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING REAL-TIME MEDIA STREAMS

摘要

The present invention refers to an apparatus (1) for switching real-time media streams of one or multiple sources (Q1, Q2, Q3) to one or multiple sinks (S1, S2, S3). The apparatus (1) comprises one or multiple source ports (QA1, QA2, QA3) for connecting of the one or multiple sources (Q1, Q2, Q3) as well as one or multiple sink ports (SA1, SA2, SA3) for connecting of the one or multiple sinks (S1, S2, S3). The apparatus (1) is adapted to provide a switching sink (Ss) and to switch it to a real-time media stream of a first source (Q1). The switching sink (Ss) is adapted to receive the real-time media stream of the first source (Q1) in a packet-switched format and to forward the received real-time media stream in a packet-switched format, wherein the packets are provided with a first multi-point destination address (IPMZs) allocated to the switching sink (Ss) during forwarding in order to allow for a connecting of the one or multiple sinks (S2) with the real-time media stream of the first source (Q1) forwarded by the switching sink (Ss). The switching sink (Ss) represents the source of the real-time media stream forwarded by the switching sink (Ss) from the "point of view" of the sinks (S1, S2, S3) connected to the apparatus, with which the sinks (S1, S2, S3) can connect through the multi-point destination address (IPMZs). In case this switching sink/source (Ss) is provided switchable as element or component of the apparatus (1) respectively a transparent switching process can be implemented within the apparatus (1).