Patent ID: 8675658

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of managing multicast data transmissions, the computer-implemented method comprising: executing Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping at a first data-switching device, IGMP snooping including monitoring IGMP control messaging and Internet Protocol (IP) multicast traffic, the first data-switching device being configured to forward IP multicast traffic and IGMP control messages via a first IGMP logical interface, the first data-switching device functioning as an edge node of a transport network, the first data-switching device also functioning as an edge node of a first access network, the first data-switching device connecting the first access network to the transport network, the transport network being a logically separate network from the first access network, the transport network forwarding data packets using an encapsulation mechanism; receiving an IGMP control message from the first access network; in response to receiving the IGMP control message, refraining from forwarding the IGMP control message via the transport network; wherein the first data-switching device is a Backbone Edge Bridge and the transport network is a Shortest Path Bridging network; and exporting the IGMP control information to a routing protocol of the SPB network and forwarding the IGMP control information via the transport network to a second data-switching device functioning as a Backbone Edge Bridge and a second IGMP Querier within a same Layer 2 broadcast domain.