System and method for managing multicast group membership
US7295525B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2003 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/48
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for efficiently managing membership in a multicast communication group. The system may comprise any number of end nodes (e.g., channel adapters, network interface adapters) and routing nodes (e.g., switches), and the method may be implemented by a processor coupled to any node. Each node in a network may be a member of the multicast group and/or the multicast tree (MCT) that routes the group's multicast communications. A node need not be a member of the group to be a member of the tree. Network links included in the multicast tree (MCT) are a subset of a network minimum spanning tree (MST). When a node is added to the group, the minimum spanning tree (MST) is searched from that node until a node within the multicast tree (MCT) is found. Each time a member is removed from the group, the multicast tree (MCT) is pruned to reduce unneeded communications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.