Method and apparatus for improved network switch multicast functionality

Abstract

A method in a network switch for improved multicast functionality includes receiving information regarding for which group or groups of receivers content is intended, comparing the received information with stored information regarding which receivers belong to which group or groups of receivers to identify receivers belonging to the group or groups of receivers for which the content is intended and multi-casting the content to the identified receivers. In one embodiment, the group or groups of receivers are pre-established using a device group control protocol and are distinguished using a unique identifier for each group. In an alternate embodiment, the group or groups of receivers are established by the network switch.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.