Patent attributes
A multicast communication device receives data packets multicast for receiving terminals which terminals do not support multicast communication and that are requesting multicast data packets. The multicast communication device then forwards the data packets to the receiving terminals. Communication from the receiving terminal accessing the sending terminal sending data packets to obtain information is monitored. Based on the access contents, a join group request is issued for the group address used by the multicast delivery. The multicast communication device stores service information such as the address of the sending terminal and the destination address of data packets sent by the sending terminal. If the service to be accessed by the receiving terminal is present, multicast delivery of data packets is requested. The multicast communication device forwards received multicast data packets to the receiving terminal.