Patent ID: 7522596
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An enhanced Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP) method for regulating one or more multicast streams in a first router, comprising the steps of: transmitting, by the first router with local interfaces, a plurality of DVMRP probe messages on those local interfaces; monitoring the local interfaces, by the first router, for DVMRP probe messages from neighboring multicast routers that are adjacent to the first router or are accessible via a multi-access network link; if a DVMRP probe message is detected by the first router on an interface, marking internally, by the first router, that interface as a branch interface; if the DVMRP probe message detected by the first router is the first branch detected, transmitting, by the first router, a route report to neighbors on the first branch; if the DVMRP probe message detected by the first router is other than the first branch detected, transmitting, by the first router, to any previously detected neighbors, a flash router report with unreachable metric for the newly detected branch; and transmitting, by the first router, to the newly detected branch a route report omitting reference to the previously detected branches and routes associated with those branches.