DYNAMIC MULTICAST MODE SELECTION IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- selectively operating a network device according to a sparse multicast mode where the network device stores individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices;
selectively operating the network device according to a dense multicast mode where the network device maintains a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting;
determining one or more resource-related characteristics by the network device; and
selecting between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a network device selectively operates according to a sparse multicast mode where the network device stores individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices. Alternatively, the network device selectively operates according to a dense multicast mode where the network device maintains a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting. By determining one or more resource-related characteristics, the network device may then select between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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selectively operating a network device according to a sparse multicast mode where the network device stores individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices; selectively operating the network device according to a dense multicast mode where the network device maintains a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting; determining one or more resource-related characteristics by the network device; and selecting between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more network interfaces to communicate in a communication network; a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes; and a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to; selectively operate according to a sparse multicast mode where the process stores individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices; selectively operate according to a dense multicast mode where the process maintains a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distributes corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting; determine one or more resource-related characteristics; and select between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor operable to:
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selectively operate a network device according to a sparse multicast mode to store individual devices interested in one or more multicast groups and distribute corresponding multicast group traffic based on the individual devices; selectively operate the network device according to a dense multicast mode to maintain a list of the one or more multicast groups in which at least one device is interested and distribute corresponding multicast group traffic through broadcasting; determine one or more resource-related characteristics; and select between operation in the sparse multicast mode and the dense multicast mode based on the resource-related characteristics.
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Specification