System and method for managing the exchange of information between multicast and unicast hosts

摘要

A network ed system of multicast-unicast gateways receives multicast information from a multicast host. A first MUG receives a multicast session request from a unicast host. The first MUG sends a message to other MUGs with a unicast host identifier. Each MUG that receives the message determines if it is designated to serve as the multicast-unicast gateway for the requesting unicast host. A MUG is designated if it is disposed to more efficiently act as a multicast-unicast gateway for the requesting unicast host. If it is, it sends a designation message to the first MUG, which reroutes the unicast host request to the designated MUG. If a designated MUG is identified, then the designated MUG acts as the multicast-unicast gateway for the unicast host. Otherwise, a default MUG acts as the gateway. This more efficiently uses network resources in managing the exchange of information between multicast and unicast hosts.