SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING OVER A NETWORK A BROADCAST FROM A BROADCAST SOURCE

摘要

A system and method for providing a broadcast to a receiver (IMC 50) via a communication network (20). In particular, the broadcast is received via at least one global multicast channel (Ml). At least one local multicast channel (lm) is associated with the global multicast address (Mx). Then, a communication link is established between the receiver (IMC 50) and the local multicast channel (lm), and the broadcast is routed from the global multicast channel (Ml) to the local multicast channel (lm) to provide the broadcast to the receiver. The number of the receivers which are receiving the broadcast may be determined. The receiver may include an Internet Protocol (IP) interface (IP I/F) which enables the receiver to receive the broadcast via an IP-type multicast communication (20). The receiver may also be wireless (50), and can receive the broadcast in a first subnet (Ia) using a multicast communication. Prior to the receiver (IMC 50) moving to a second subnet (ia), a request is generated by the receiver to receive the broadcast in the second subnet. After receiving the request, the broadcast is provided to the wireless receiver in the second subnet using the multicast communication.