Method and system for multicast path switching, corresponding network and computer program product

A method of transmitting multicast signals from a source to user terminals via multicast paths through a set of nodes in a network, comprising:

• sending toward said source corresponding join and prune messages through a first node in a multicast path, said join message to establish a new multicast path from said source to a user terminal and said prune message to discontinue an old multicast path from said source to said user terminal;
• detecting the reception of both said join message and said prune message at a second node in said network;
• and
• steering through said second node in said network a switch of a path for transmitting multicast signals from said source to said user terminal from said old multicast path over to said new multicast path.

A node for a multicast communication network wherein multicast signals from a source are sent to user terminals via multicast paths through a set of nodes in a network, wherein corresponding join and prune messages are sent from a first node in a multicast path toward said source, said join message to establish a new multicast path from said source to a user terminal and said prune message to discontinue an old multicast path from said source to said user terminal, comprising a node capable of being configured for:

• detecting the reception of both said join message and said prune message and steering a switch of a path for transmitting multicast signals from said source to said user terminal from said old multicast path over to said new multicast path;
• detecting the reception of said join message on a join reception interface without said corresponding prune message following and forwarding toward said source said join message by presetting said join reception interface for transmission of said multicast signals unless already traversed by said multicast signals;
• and
• detecting the reception of said prune message on a prune reception interface without said corresponding join message following and forwarding toward said source said prune message by pre-setting said prune reception interface for discontinuing transmission of said multicast signals unless a same signal is also requested by another downstream user terminal on the same path.