Patent ID: 7716363

Claim:
A method for providing request compatibility in a multicast system, said method comprising: receiving, by a layer 2 switch coupled between a group of receivers and a router, requests for traffic from said group of receivers; determining, by said layer 2 switch, whether said traffic requests contain incompatible request types; if incompatible request types exist, then separating said traffic requests into at least two groups based on type; creating a first host identity at said layer 2 switch associated with a first address available to said layer 2 switch; creating a second host identity at said layer 2 switch associated with a second address available to said layer 2 switch; and sending requests of a first group of said at least two groups from said first host identity of said layer 2 switch to said router, and sending requests of a second group of said at least two groups from said second host identity of said layer 2 switch to said router, to present an appearance to said router that the requests of different types are from different hosts.