Abstract: A method (and structure) for automatically configuring a network including a plurality of interconnected computers, includes configuring more than one of the plurality of computers to assume a role as a designated router which determines a current network configuration by determining which computers are currently on-line, using this determined current network configuration to determine a current network topology that defines a neighborhood relationship among the interconnected computers currently on-line, and communicating the current network topology to the network. The method also includes defining a priority criterion and automatically selecting one of the computers according to the priority criterion to serve the role as designated router.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for determining an optimal routing of data packets to subnet addresses in a network including a plurality of routers interrelated by a defined neighborhood relationship, includes, responsive to learning of a presence of a subnet, determining a distance between the subnet and each router.

Abstract: A method for distributing web content efficiently across a network preferably using multicast transmission techniques. An information server receives a first request for a portion of information from a first networked device. It then receives a second request for the portion of information from a second networked device. The information server collects the first request and the second request into a bucket. The information server creates a combined response, destined for reception by the first networked device and the second networked device, and then provides the combined response including the portion of information requested by both the first and second networked devices, to a network interface.

Abstract: A method (and structure) of automatically configuring a network including a plurality of interconnected computers currently on-line, includes determining a current configuration of the network by determining which computers are currently on-line and using the determined current configuration to determine a current network topology that defines a neighborhood relationship for those computers currently on-line.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for determining an optimal routing of data packets to subnet addresses in a network including a plurality of routers interrelated by a defined neighborhood relationship, includes, responsive to learning of a presence of a subnet, determining a distance between the subnet and each router.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for automatically configuring a network including a plurality of interconnected computers, includes configuring more than one of the plurality of computers to assume a role as a designated router which determines a current network configuration by determining which computers are currently on-line, using this determined current network configuration to determine a current network topology that defines a neighborhood relationship among the interconnected computers currently on-line, and communicating the current network topology to the network. The method also includes defining a priority criterion and automatically selecting one of the computers according to the priority criterion to serve the role as designated router.

Abstract: A method for distributing web content efficiently across a network preferably using multicast transmission techniques. An information server receives a first request for a portion of information from a first networked device. It then receives a second request for the portion of information from a second networked device. The information server collects the first request and the second request into a bucket. The information server creates a combined response, destined for reception by the first networked device and the second networked device, and then provides the combined response including the portion of information requested by both the first and second networked devices, to a network interface.