Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multicasting blocks of data to a plurality of receivers, the blocks including a first block and a second block, the first block comprising k1≧1 data packets, the transmission of the first block comprising an initial transmission of the k1 data packets and h1≧repair packets and one or more subsequent transmissions of additional repair packets in response to repair requests, wherein any k1 of the data packets and repair packets provide sufficient information to recover the k1 data packets; and multicasting a second block comprising k2≧1 data packets, the transmission of the second block comprising an initial transmission of the k2 data packets and h2≧repair packets, wherein any k2 of the data packets and the repair packets of the second block provide sufficient information to recover the k2 data packets of the second block and either or both k2 and h2 differ from k1 and h1, respectively.

Abstract: A network component performs flow admission control. A function F(t) is provided which characterizes resources available at the network component. Information characterizing a proposed flow is received and used to define an envelope A(t). It is then attempted to fit the envelope within F(t) and the flow is accepted or rejected based on the attempt to fit the envelope.