Class MulticastSocket

Class java.net.MulticastSocket

Class Members | This Package | All Packages
java.lang.Object
   |
   +----java.net.DatagramSocket
           |
           +----java.net.MulticastSocket

public class MulticastSocket
extends DatagramSocket

The multicast datagram socket class is useful for sending and receiving IP multicast packets. A MulticastSocket is a (UDP) DatagramSocket, with additional capabilities for joining "groups" of other multicast hosts on the internet.

A multicast group is specified by a class D IP address, those in the range 224.0.0.1 to 239.255.255.255, inclusive, and by a standard UDP port number. One would join a multicast group by first creating a MulticastSocket with the desired port, then invoking the joinGroup(InetAddress groupAddr) method:

 // join a Multicast group and send the group salutations
 ...
 byte[] msg = {'H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'};
 InetAddress group = InetAddress.getByName("228.5.6.7");
 MulticastSocket s = new MulticastSocket(6789);
 s.joinGroup(group);
 DatagramPacket hi = new DatagramPacket(msg, msg.length,
                             group, 6789);
 s.send(hi);
 // get their responses! 
 byte[] buf = new byte[1000];
 DatagramPacket recv = new DatagramPacket(buf, buf.length);
 s.receive(recv);
 ...
 // OK, I'm done talking - leave the group...
 s.leaveGroup(group);
 
When one sends a message to a multicast group, all subscribing recipients to that host and port receive the message (within the time-to-live range of the packet, see below). The socket needn't be a member of the multicast group to send messages to it.

When a socket subscribes to a multicast group/port, it receives datagrams sent by other hosts to the group/port, as do all other members of the group and port. A socket relinquishes membership in a group by the leaveGroup(InetAddress addr) method. Multiple MulticastSocket's may subscribe to a multicast group and port concurrently, and they will all receive group datagrams.

Currently applets are not allowed ot use multicast sockets.