Patent ID: 6778531
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of routing data from a source node to a plurality of receiver nodes, the source node and each receiver node included in a network of nodes interconnected by links, comprising the steps of:(a) forming from the network of nodes and interconnected links, in response to a multi-cast routing request, a subnetwork having paths along which the data may be routed between the source node and the plurality of receiver nodes based on a service level of the routing request; (b) generating at least one tree, each tree comprising a set of nodes and links from the source node and the plurality of receiver nodes, wherein each tree is generated based on residual capacity of the links in the tree after the data is routed through the tree, wherein step (b comprises the steps of: (b1) determining a scaling phase based on the residual capacity of the links, (b2) generating a tree with the scaling phase, and (b3) adjusting the scaling phase to generate an updated scaling phase such that the residual capacity is reduced; (c) selecting a tree as a multicast routing tree, wherein the tree is selected based on a predetermined criteria, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of: (c1) comparing each updated scaling phase with a threshold, and (c2) selecting the tree based on the comparison of step (c1); and (d) routing the data along the multicast routing tree.