Patent ID: 7065577

Claim:
A method for facilitating multicast control, comprising: receiving a request for translating a network element interface identifier associated with a first network element from a first type of network element interface identifier to a second type of network element interface identifier, wherein the request is transmitted for reception by the first network element from a second network element, wherein the first network element is a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), and the first type of network element interface identifier is a conventional identifier, and the second type of network element interface identifier is an identifier which is proprietary to the DSLAM; translating the network element interface identifier from the first type of network element interface identifier to the second type of network element interface identifier after receiving the request, wherein a translated network element interface identifier corresponding to the second type of network element interface identifier is generated; informing the second network element of the translated network element interface identifier, wherein the second network element is an IP Gateway; and storing the translated network element interface identifier for use by the IP Gateway in further communications such that the further communications are free of additional translations.