Method of multicast message distribution
First Claim
1. In a communication network including a plurality of communication nodes interconnected by a plurality of communication links, a method of distributing a multicast message to each of the communication nodes, the method being executed by each of the nodes and comprising the steps of:
- selecting a multicast pathway constructed from a set of said links, said set of links being selected such that said multicast pathway contains no loops, and such that each of said communication nodes is connected to at least one of said links in said set and is able to send a message along the links within the set to any other of said communication nodes, the selection of the multicast pathway including the substeps ofselecting one of said communication nodes as root node, andselecting said set of links to form a spanning tree for said plurality of communication nodes using the selected root node;
receiving the multicast message by each of the communication nodes from a corresponding receiving one of said of links; and
forwarding the received multicast message along every link, other than the corresponding receiving link, which is within the set and which is connected to the node forwarding the message.
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Abstract
A method for multicast communication wherein a multicast message is distributed to all the nodes in a multicast range. If a multicast message has a multicast range which is larger than one link in the network then the message is forwarded along a unique set of pathways through the range. The unique set of pathways is called a multicast spanning tree and is unique to all nodes which can communicate directly by virtue of a list of known nodes. The network is divided into areas each of which contains a group of directly communicating nodes. A group of nodes designated as level two nodes facilitates communication between the nodes in different areas.
136 Citations
6 Claims
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1. In a communication network including a plurality of communication nodes interconnected by a plurality of communication links, a method of distributing a multicast message to each of the communication nodes, the method being executed by each of the nodes and comprising the steps of:
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selecting a multicast pathway constructed from a set of said links, said set of links being selected such that said multicast pathway contains no loops, and such that each of said communication nodes is connected to at least one of said links in said set and is able to send a message along the links within the set to any other of said communication nodes, the selection of the multicast pathway including the substeps of selecting one of said communication nodes as root node, and selecting said set of links to form a spanning tree for said plurality of communication nodes using the selected root node; receiving the multicast message by each of the communication nodes from a corresponding receiving one of said of links; and forwarding the received multicast message along every link, other than the corresponding receiving link, which is within the set and which is connected to the node forwarding the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A first communication node for use in a communication network also including other communication nodes to form a group of communication nodes interconnected by a plurality of communication links, said first communication node comprising:
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means for selecting a set of said communication links, in common with the other communication nodes in the group, which form a multicast pathway having no loops and which permits any communication nodes in the group to send a message along the links in said multicast pathway to any other of said communication nodes in the group; means for receiving a multicast message from the ones of said set of links which are coupled to said first communication node; and means, coupled to said receiving means, for forwarding the received multicast message along every one of the links in said set, if any, which is connected to said first communication ode except the link over which the message was received. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification