Patent ID: 7535904

Claim:
A method of sending streaming media over a network, which comprises: receiving a packet at a router; determining if said packet is addressed to multiple addressees; if said packet is addressed to a single addressee, inspecting Layer 7 content of said packet; if said packet is a stream and if a packet having identical layer seven content is in a queue for a same next router, adding the addressee of said packet to said packet having identical Layer 7 content in said queue for said same next router and dropping said packet; if said packet is addressed to multiple addressees via a same next router, inspecting Layer 7 content of said packet; if said packet is a stream and if a packet having identical layer seven content is in a queue for said same next router, adding the addressees of said packet to said packet having identical Layer 7 content in said queue for said same next router and dropping said packet; if said packet is addressed to multiple addressees via multiple next routers, putting said packet in respective queues for each of said multiple routers.