Patent ID: 7411916
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A data forwarder to forward data on a computer network, including: a plurality of interfaces including member interfaces and at least one uplink interface, the at least one uplink interface for connection to a router, and the at least one uplink interface not any of the member interfaces; means for grouping one or more of the member interfaces to form a first multicast group; means for receiving first data over one of the at least one uplink interface, the received first data including a first information content and an address of the first multicast group; means for receiving second data including a second information content and the address of the first multicast group over a first interface, in which the first interface is one of the member interfaces, means for storing a forwarding table containing plural forwarding entries for corresponding plural multicast groups, a particular one of the forwarding entries mapping the first multicast group to one or more identifiers of the one or more member interfaces that are part of the first multicast group, wherein the table does not store corresponding one or more identifiers of the at least one uplink interface; means for forwarding, based on the particular forwarding entry, the first information content to the one or more member interfaces of the first multicast group; means for forwarding the second information content to the at least one uplink interface and for forwarding, based on the particular forwarding entry, the second information content to the one or more member interfaces other than the first interface of the first multicast group.