System and method for efficiently handling multicast packets by ignoring VLAN context
US6912589B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/467
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for efficiently handling forwarding of multicast packets by ignoring VLAN (virtual local area network) context during lookup. In one embodiment, the present invention receives, at an intermediate device, multicast registration information for a client. The present embodiment then creates a forwarding database of the multicast registration information. In the present embodiment, when handling a multicast packet at an intermediate device, the present invention accesses the multicast registration information stored in the forwarding database. More particularly, in this embodiment, the present invention accesses the multicast registration information stored in the forwarding database without utilizing VLAN context of the client. As a result, the present invention allows the intermediate device to forward a single multicast packet which will later be supplied to registered member ports. The member ports apply the appropriate VLAN context. In so doing, the present invention prevents unnecessary replication of multicast packets and avoids superfluous expensive lookups in multicast registration tables.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.