Patent ID: 8849989
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method performed in a network element for tracking a history of Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) report messages, wherein the network element is coupled between a subscriber end station and a multicast source, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an IGMP report message from the subscriber end station, the IGMP report message indicating that the subscriber end station is a member of a multicast group which is provided by the multicast source; determining a multicast group address and a multicast source Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to the multicast group; building an IGMP report history record separate from any other logging message that is performed as a result of receipt of the IGMP report message, the IGMP report history record indicating the subscriber end station's identity and comprising the multicast group address, the multicast source IP address, and a time stamp indicating the date and time at which the IGMP report message was received; and determining one of a plurality of IGMP report history tables in an IGMP report history database that corresponds to the IGMP report message, wherein the determined IGMP report history table corresponds to the subscriber end station's identity; storing the IGMP report history record in the determined IGMP report history table; whereby network element can maintain a history of IGMP report messages received from the subscriber end station in the IGMP report history table separate from IGMP report messages received from other subscriber end stations.