Java^TM Reliable Multicast^TM Service: A Reliable Multicast Library, The

The Java^TM Reliable Multicast Service^TM (JRMS) is a set of libraries and services for building multicast-aware applications. It enables building applications that distribute data from "senders" to "receivers" over "channels" with distributed control over content mix. It includes a dynamic filtering mechanism that uses Java software that is pushed into the network for interpreting the data of the receiver. JRMS supports multiple reliable multicast transport protocols via a common programming interface, which provides isolation to applications. Supported transport protocols are selectable by applications based on reliability and type of service needs.

Emerging multimedia or "push" applications can use JRMS as a better platform for reliable delivery of content to very large constituencies. As compared to unicast (point-to-point) protocols), reliable multicast enables broadcasting to groups of receivers, ensuring bandwidth conservation and timely delivery. The JRMS reliable multicast transport protocol (TRAM) is designed for high scalability. JRMS also includes related services for multicast address allocation, channel advertisement and subscription, authentication and encryption, and receiver group management. JRMS is designed to be a flexible toolkit to the application developer for authoring new types of network-centric multimedia applications.