# US 2021/0243568 A1 · Methods and apparatus for layer-2 forwarding of multicast packets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243568 A1 - Document ID: US20210243568A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/267,339 - Filed: 2019-08-16 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-13 - Assignees: IDAC Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: IDAC Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Dirk Trossen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243568A1 ## CPC - H04L 45/66: {Layer 2 routing, e.g. in Ethernet based MAN's} - H04W 4/06: Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services - H04L 12/189: {in combination with wireless systems (selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06)} - H04L 45/16: Multipoint routing - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04W 52/383: {power control in peer-to-peer links} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for Layer-2 forwarding of multicast packets are disclosed. In an example, a method implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for wireless communications includes receiving a first packet comprising a request for content available at the WTRU, determining at least one outstanding request for the same content, and determining multicast path information of the at least one outstanding request. The method further includes generating a second packet and setting a destination Medium Access Control (MAC) address to a broadcast (BC) MAC address in the second packet, adding a proxy rule identifier (PRID) corresponding to the request into a payload of the second packet, and forwarding the second packet to another WTRU. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-5. (canceled) ### Claim 6 A method for wireless communications, comprising: receiving, by a first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) from a second WTRU, a packet comprising a response associated with an Internet Protocol (IP)-based application; determining, by the first WTRU, that the packet is received on a broadcast (BC) Medium Access Control (MAC) address; retrieving, by the first WTRU, a proxy rule identifier (PRID) from the packet in response to the determination that the packet is received on the BC MAC address, wherein the PRID is associated with the IP-based application; determining, by the first WTRU, whether there is one or more outstanding requests associated with the PRID; on condition that there is no outstanding request associated with the PRID, dropping, by the first WTRU, the packet; and on condition that there is at least one outstanding request associated with the PRID, forwarding, by the first WTRU, the response locally to the IP-based application that initiated the at least one outstanding request. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein any of the first WTRU and the second WTRU is associated with a 5G Access Node (5GAN). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein any of the first WTRU and the second WTRU is associated with a User Plane Function (UPF). ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more outstanding requests were sent from one or more WTRUs other than the first WTRU and the second WTRU. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the packet is received from a multicasting transmission. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the response is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) response. ### Claim 12 A first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a receiver configured to receive a first packet comprising a request for content available at the WTRU; a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver, the processor configured to: determine at least one outstanding request for the same content, determine multicast path information of the at least one outstanding request, generate a second packet, set a destination Medium Access Control (MAC) address to a broadcast (BC) MAC address in the second packet, and add a proxy rule identifier (PRID) corresponding to the request into a payload of the second packet; and a transmitter communicatively coupled with the receiver and the processor, the transmitter configured to send the second packet to a second WTRU. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The first WTRU of claim 12, wherein the processor further configured to identify, via a Service Request (SR) component of the first WTRU, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) response corresponding to the request. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The first WTRU of claim 13, wherein the processor further configured to generate the second packet for multicasting in response to receiving the request and identifying the HTTP response. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The first WTRU of claim 12, wherein the multicast path information includes a path identifier (pathID). ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The first WTRU of claim 12, wherein the payload of the second packet further includes the requested content. ### Claim 17 A first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from a second WTRU, a packet comprising a response associated with an Internet Protocol (IP)-based application; a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver, the processor configured to: determine that the packet is received on a broadcast (BC) Medium Access Control MAC) address, retrieve a proxy rule identifier (PRID) from the packet in response to the determination that the packet is received on the BC MAC address, wherein the PRID is associated with the IP-based application, determine whether there is one or more outstanding requests associated with the PRID, and on condition that there is no outstanding request associated with the PRID, drop the packet, and a transmitter communicatively coupled with the receiver and the processor, the transmitter configured to: on condition that there is at least one outstanding request associated with the PRID, send the response locally to the IP-based application that initiated the at least one outstanding request. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The first WTRU of claim 17, wherein any of the first WTRU and the second WTRU is associated with a 5G Access Node (5GAN). ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The first WTRU of claim 17, wherein any of the first WTRU and the second WTRU is associated with a User Plane Function (UPF). ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The first WTRU of claim 17, wherein the one or more outstanding requests were sent from one or more WTRUs other than the first WTRU and the second WTRU. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The first WTRU of claim 17, wherein the packet is received from a multicasting transmission. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The first WTRU of claim 17, wherein the response is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) response.