Abstract: Processing Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) messages in which a response-mode determination process is facilitated after receiving an IGMP Membership Report designating a requested multipoint leaf connection, where in a proactive expedited leave process is performed in response to determining that implementation of the requested multipoint leaf connection is required and that required network resources are unavailable. A multicast leaf connection implementation process for implementing the requested multipoint leaf connection is performed in response to determining that required network resources are available.

Abstract: A method for facilitating inverse multiplexing over asynchronous transfer mode is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving a stream of sequentially aligned ATM cells via an originating end point logical communication link. A sequence identifier is associated with each one of the ATM cells for creating sequence-identified ATM cells. The sequence-identified ATM cells are forwarded to a destination endpoint logical communication link in a distributed manner over a plurality of IM communication links. A first one of said IM communication links has disparate data transmission rates in at least one data transmission direction with respect to a second one of the IM communication links.