Patent ID: 6167051
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of transferring a packet destined for a plurality of destination nodes in multicast communication from a first node belonging to one logical network to a plurality of second nodes, each of the plurality of second nodes belonging to another logical network different from said one logical network, comprising steps of:storing a correspondence relationship between a first virtual connection for receiving a packet from the first node and a second virtual connection for transmitting the packet to a specified one of the plurality of second nodes;copying a packet received through the first virtual connection when it is determined that one or more of the plurality of second nodes other than the specified one will not receive a packet destined for the plurality of destination nodes if the packet is transferred only in accordance with the stored correspondence relationship;transferring one copy of the packet received through the first virtual connection onto the second virtual connection in accordance with the stored correspondence relationship; andtransferring another copy of the packet received through the first virtual connection to said one or more of the plurality of second nodes other than the specified one.