Patent ID: 8761002

Claim:
A network device, comprising: a memory to store computer instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising: monitoring a multicast data stream being transmitted by a first server through a group of routers including a first router, wherein the server is a source of the multicast data stream and wherein the monitoring by the network device is by directly receiving the multicast data stream from the first router and not directly from the server; transmitting a first request to receive the multicast data stream to the first router; detecting a failure of the server to transmit the multicast data stream based on the monitoring of the multicast data stream; receiving a second request to withdraw the server as the source of the multicast data stream; and propagating information to the group of routers via unicasting indicating withdrawal of the server as the source of the multicast data stream responsive to detecting the failure of the server to transmit the multicast data stream or responsive to receiving the second request to withdraw the server as the source of the multicast data stream.