What is claimed is:
1. A method of managing IP multicast connections in a network having a network node and a plurality of end users, said method comprising the steps of
(a) receiving, at a network node an IGMP Group Join message from an end-user device serviced by the network;
(b) comparing, at the network node, a MAC address, obtained from the Join message, of the end-user device to another MAC address obtained from a previous Join message for which there exists an IP multicast connection to the network node;
(c) initiating, by the network node responsive to a match resulting from the comparison, a GSQ for the group of the matching previous Join request; and
(d) terminating, responsive to a result of the GSQ processing indicating that a connection to the group is no longer needed, the connection to the group.
2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein if there is not enough resources to satisfy the requirements of the Group Join message received (or subsequent Group Join messages), then it may either be ignored, or queued for later processing, once the normal GSQ sequence is complete and resources are available.
3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein multiple Join-Leave pairs are dealt within rapid succession.
4. In a data communications network having one or more network nodes, said one or more network nodes including digital subscriber line access multiplexers, said network implementing the internet group management protocol (IGMP), said one or more network nodes having means for receiving an IGMF Group Join message from an end-user serviced by said network and comparing the MAC address contained in said Join message of an end-user device to another MAC address obtained from a previous Join message, said network node initiating a group specific query (GSQ) with a group of the matching previous Join requests and said network node terminating the connection to the group in response to the GSQ indicating that a connection to the group is no longer needed.
5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said network node includes a digital subscriber line access multiplexer.
6. The system defined in claim 4 wherein said end-use device is a set-top box.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-12. (canceled)
13. A switching device (2) for a multi-step vehicle transmission (4) having one main transmission part (6) and at least one auxiliary-section transmission part (10) and comprising switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) for actuating switching elements (42, 50, 52, 54) in the main transmission part (6) and switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) for actuating switching elements (44, 46) in the auxiliary-section transmission part (10) and in which the switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) for actuating the switching elements (42, 50, 52, 54) in the main transmission part (6) also actuate the switching elements (44, 46) in the auxiliary-section transmission part (10), the switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) have a clearance (40) in which can be moved one element (38) of the switching means that actuates the switching elements (42, 44, 46, 50, 52, 54) during a selection process for choosing a desired switching element (42, 44, 46, 50, 52, 54) in direction to a switching operation.
14. The switching device (2) according to claim 13, wherein the switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) for actuating the switching elements (42, 50, 52, 54) in the main transmission part (6) comprise one of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric actuator (12) for carrying out a switching command.
15. The switching device (2) according to claim 13, wherein the switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) for actuating the switching elements (42, 50, 52, 54) in the main transmission part (6) comprise one of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric actuator (18) for carrying out a selection command.
16. The switching device (2) according to claim 14, wherein the actuator (12, 18) is controlled by automation based on commands processed in a control device (37) according to preset rules.
17. The switching device (2) according to claim 14, wherein the actuator (12) for carrying out the switching command can be controlled with at least parts of a selection command for carrying out a selection procedure in direction of the switching operation.
18. The switching device (2) according to claim 13, wherein on the clearance (40), a first switching element (44) of the auxiliary-section transmission part (10) abuts on one side and a second switching element (42) of the main transmission part (6) abuts on another side.
19. The switching device (2) according to claim 14, wherein the switching elements (44, 46) of the auxiliary-section transmission part (10) are synchronized switching elements.
20. The switching device (2) according to claim 14, wherein the switching elements (44, 46) of the auxiliary-section transmission part (10) comprise one dog clutch engagement without synchronization elements.
21. The switching device (2) according to claim 20, wherein in the presence of a dog clutch engagement without synchronization elements, the switching elements (42) of the main transmission part (6) located next to the clearance (40) are switching elements for a highest and a lowest ratio step of the main transmission part (6).
22. The switching device (2) according to claim 14, wherein the switching means (12, 14, 18, 38) for actuating the switching elements (42, 50, 52, 54) in the main transmission part (6) comprise one single selector shaft (14).
23. The switching device (2) according to claim 14, wherein a selector finger (38) is directly connected with the switching means (12, 18) for carrying out a switching motion and a selection motion.