Increasing probability of multicast transmissions in wlan

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing source code that, when executed by a processor, performs a method in a network device of a data communication network, for increasing delivery probability of multicast video transmissions, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting, by a processor of the network device, a video stream within a multicast transmission of network packets to multicast members;
• responsive to a number of multicast members being below a threshold, converting, by the processor, the multicast transmission to a plurality of unicast transmissions, wherein the unicast transmission provides an acknowledgment for received network packets from the multicast members;
• responsive to the number of multicast members meeting or exceeding the threshold:
• determining, by the processor, data rate capabilities for each of the multicast members,
• grouping the multicast members into two or more groups based on corresponding data rate capabilities, and
• generating a multicast stream for each of the groups at distinct data rates;
• and
• sending, by a network interface of the network device, two or more multicast transmissions downstream to the multicast members groups at the distinct data rates.

A network device of a data communication network, for increasing delivery probability of multicast video transmissions, the network device comprising:

• a processor;
• a video multicast detection module, communicatively coupled to the processor, the video multicast detection module to detect a video stream within a multicast transmission of network packets to multicast members;
• a unicast conversion module, communicatively coupled to the processor and the video multicast detection module, the unicast conversion module 220 to, responsive to a number of multicast members being below a threshold, convert the multicast transmission to a plurality of unicast transmissions, wherein the unicast transmission provides an acknowledgment for received network packets from the multicast members;
• a data rate grouping module, communicatively coupled to the processor and the unicast conversion module to, responsive to the number of multicast members meeting or exceeding the threshold:
• determine data rate capabilities for each of the multicast members,
• group the multicast members into two or more groups based on corresponding data rate capabilities, and
• generate a multicast stream for each of the groups at distinct data rates;
• and
• a network interface, communicatively coupled to the network interface and the unicast conversion module and to the data rate grouping module, the network interface to send two or more multicast transmissions downstream to the multicast members groups at the distinct data rates.