Patent ID: 6826612
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for controlling multicast group subscriptions, comprising:receiving a group leave request from a first host, wherein the group leave request corresponds to a first selected group of a plurality of multicast groups, wherein the first host is included in a set of hosts supported along a connection; issuing at least one group specific query to the set of hosts, wherein the at least one group specific query corresponds to the first selected group, wherein the first selected group is added to a membership verification set of groups as a result of the at least one group specific query, wherein the membership verification set of groups includes groups of the plurality of multicast groups that have currently issued group specific queries; while waiting for a response to the at least one group specific query: receiving a group join request from a second host in the set of hosts, wherein the group join request corresponds to a second selected group of the plurality of multicast groups; when bandwidth along the connection is available to support bandwidth requirements of the second selected group, adding the second selected group to a set of groups supported by the connection; and when bandwidth along the connection is not available to support the bandwidth requirements of the second selected group: selecting at least one termination group from the membership verification set of groups; terminating support of the at least one termination group such that available bandwidth along the connection is increased to meet the bandwidth requirements of the second selected group, wherein terminating support of the at least one termination group removes the at least one termination group from the set of groups supported by the connection; and adding the second selected group to the set of groups supported by the connection.