Multicast retry in a communication network
Aspects of multicast retry in a communication network includes a terminal device serving as an originator station device within a multicast group configured to provide transmission of one or more protocol data units via a network utilizing a multicast address. Subsequent to transmission of the one or more protocol data units, the terminal device may receive an acknowledgment protocol data unit via one of many destination terminal devices configured to serve as a responder. The received acknowledgment protocol data unit provides a basis to determine whether the transmitted protocol data units were successfully received by one or more destination terminal devices. One or more of the protocol data units may be retransmitted based on the determination. Also, following retransmission, a supplemental acknowledgment protocol data unit may be provided via a destination terminal device of the destination terminal devices exclusive of the responder destination terminal device.
1. A method in a terminal device for multicasting information in a communication network, the method comprising:
enabling the terminal device to serve as an originator terminal device for multicast operation;
transmitting multicast protocol data units utilizing a multicast address to a plurality of destination terminal devices;
receiving, in response to the transmitting, an acknowledgment protocol data unit via a responder destination terminal device of the plurality of destination terminal devices;
determining whether the transmitted multicast protocol data units are successfully received by the plurality of destination terminal devices based on the received acknowledgment protocol data unit;
retransmitting those of the transmitted multicast protocol data units, which based on the determining, unsuccessfully received at the plurality of destination terminal devices, wherein the retransmission by the terminal device is based on information received from the responder destination terminal device; and
receiving a supplemental acknowledgment protocol data unit from a destination terminal device of the plurality of destination terminal devices exclusive of the responder destination terminal device, wherein each of the acknowledgement protocol data unit and the supplemental acknowledgment protocol data unit are received utilizing the multicast address.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a multicast retry enablement protocol data unit from at least one of the plurality of destination terminal devices.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of destination terminal devices are associated with a multicast group.
4. The method of claim 3 , comprising identifying the multicast group based on the multicast address.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitted multicast protocol data units are associated with a multicast flow.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
identifying the multicast flow based on the multicast address, an address for the originator terminal device and a transmit flow identifier.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a clear to send (CTS) protocol data unit prior to the transmitting of the multicast protocol data units utilizing the multicast address.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
transmitting a request to send (RTS) protocol data unit prior to receiving the clear to send protocol data unit.
9. A terminal device for communicating information in a communication network system, the terminal device comprising:
a processor; and
memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that causes the processor to:
enable the terminal device to serve as an originator terminal device for multicast operation;
transmit multicast protocol data units utilizing a multicast address to a plurality of destination terminal devices;
receive, in response to the transmitting, an acknowledgment protocol data unit via a responder destination terminal device of the plurality of destination terminal devices;
determine whether the transmitted multicast protocol data units are successfully received by the plurality of destination terminal devices based on the received acknowledgment protocol data unit;
retransmit those of the transmitted multicast protocol data units, which based on the determining, unsuccessfully received at the plurality of destination terminal devices, wherein the retransmission by the terminal device is based on information received from the responder destination terminal device; and
receive a supplemental acknowledgment protocol data unit from a destination terminal device of the plurality of destination terminal devices exclusive of the responder destination terminal device, wherein each of the one or more acknowledgement protocol data units and each of the one or more supplemental acknowledgment protocol data units are received utilizing the multicast address.
10. The terminal device of claim 9 , wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processor to:
receive a multicast retry enablement protocol data unit from one of the plurality of destination terminal devices.
11. The terminal device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of destination terminal devices are associated with a multicast group.
12. The terminal device of claim 11 , further comprising identifying the multicast group based on the multicast address.
13. The terminal device of claim 9 , wherein the transmitted multicast protocol data units are associated with a multicast flow.
14. The terminal device of claim 13 , wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processor to:
identify the multicast flow based on the multicast address, an address for the originator terminal device and a transmit flow identifier.
15. The terminal device of claim 9 , wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processor to:
receive a clear to send (CTS) protocol data unit prior to the transmitting of the multicast protocol data units utilizing the multicast address.
16. The terminal device of claim 15 , wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processor to:
transmit a request to send (RTS) protocol data unit prior to receiving the clear to send protocol data unit.
17. A method in a terminal device for multicasting information in a communication network, the method comprising:
transmitting multicast protocol data units utilizing a multicast address to a plurality of destination terminal devices;
receiving, in response to the transmitting, an acknowledgment protocol data unit via a responder destination terminal device of the plurality of destination terminal devices;
determining whether the transmitted multicast protocol data units are successfully received by the plurality of destination terminal devices based on the received acknowledgment protocol data unit;
when the transmitted multicast protocol data units are unsuccessfully received, retransmitting those of the transmitted multicast protocol data units unsuccessfully received, wherein the retransmission by the terminal device is based on information received from the responder destination terminal device; and
receiving a supplemental acknowledgment protocol data unit from a destination terminal device of the plurality of destination terminal devices exclusive of the responder destination terminal device, wherein each of the acknowledgement protocol data unit and each of the one or more supplemental acknowledgment protocol data units are received utilizing the multicast address.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving a multicast retry enablement protocol data unit from at least one of the plurality of destination terminal devices.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of destination terminal devices are associated with a multicast group.
20. The method of claim 19 , comprising identifying the multicast group based on the multicast address.