Patents Examined by K. Vanderpuye
  • Patent number: 5959989
    Abstract: A mechanism for efficiently distributing multicast messages having group destination addresses to subscribing entities in a computer network. The network includes a plurality of virtual local area network (VLAN) designations among those entities and a multicast network device (MND) configured to generate at least one unique multicast (MVLAN) identifier (ID) for each group destination address. Each MVLAN ID encompasses all VLAN designations of the subscribing entities, except for the VLAN designation associated with the entity sourcing the message. Each MVLAN ID is propagated to intermediate devices of the network and attached to subsequent multicast messages to enable efficient distribution of those messages over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Gleeson, Percy P. Khabardar, Norman W. Finn