Content - based filtering of multicast information

A method for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address and content mask, said method including the step of:

• at a node in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, filtering said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein
• said node includes at least one output interface;
• said node transmits to said output interface only those messages associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface;
• and
• wherein said step of filtering causes at least a portion of said messages to be forwarded by said network element to less than all of said output interfaces.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address and content mask, said method including the step of:

• at least one node in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, said node including a processor disposed to filter said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein
• said node includes at least one output interface;
• said processor is adapted to transmit to said output interface selected portion of messages which are associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface;
• and
• said processor forwards at least one said message to less than all of said output interfaces.

A method for content-based filtering of multicast information distributed over a bi-directional data network, said method including:

• associating a content descriptor with messages including information in a set of categories, said content descriptor being descriptive of a subject matter of information in its associated messages;
• associating a multicast address with each said content descriptor;
• and
• in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, filtering said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages;
• wherein said step of filtering said messages is performed at a network element other than a recipient device.

A method for content-based filtering of multicast information distributed over a bi-directional data network, said method including the steps of:

• associating a content descriptor with messages including information in a set of categories;
• associating a multicast address with each said content descriptor;
• receiving a subscription request from at least one recipient device;
• and
• in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, filtering said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages.

A method for content-based filtering of multicast information, said method including the steps of:

• associating a content descriptor with messages including information in a set of categories, said content descriptor being descriptive of a subject matter of information in its associated messages;
• associating a multicast address and a content mask with each said content descriptor;
• in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, filtering said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages;
• wherein said step of filtering said messages is performed at a network element other than a recipient device, said network element including at least one output interface;
• and
• transmitting to said output interface only those messages associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface.

A method for content-based filtering of multicast information, said method including the steps of:

• associating a content descriptor with messages including information in a set of categories;
• associating a multicast address with each said content descriptor;
• and
• in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, filtering said messages using at least a portion of said content descriptors to thereby limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein said multicast tree includes at least one network element and a plurality of output interfaces for forwarding messages in said multicast tree;
• and
• wherein said step of filtering causes at least a portion of said messages to be forwarded by said network element to less than all of said output interfaces.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information distributed over a bi-directional data network, said system including:

• at least one processor;
• at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network;
• and
• memory;
• the system being configured or designed to receive a set of messages including information in a set of categories, each said message having a content descriptor associated therewith, each said content descriptor having a multicast address associated therewith, each said content descriptor being descriptive of a subject matter of information in its associated message;
• and
• the system being further configured or designed to determine appropriate recipient devices for receiving each of the messages, each of the recipient devices being associated with at least one multicast tree;
• the system being further configured or designed to filter said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along a multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, said system including:

• at least one node in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, said node including a processor disposed to filter said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein
• said node includes at least one output interface;
• said processor is adapted to transmit to said output interface selected portion of messages which are associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface;
• and
• said processor is configured or designed to forward at least one said message to less than all of said output interfaces.

A method for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, said method including:

• at a node in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address, filtering said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein
• said node including at least one output interface;
• and
• transmitting to said output interface only those messages associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, each said content descriptor being descriptive of a subject matter of information in its associated message, said system including:

• at least one processor;
• at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network;
• and
• memory;
• the system being configured or designed to receive a subscription request from at least one recipient device;
• the system being further configured or designed to filter said messages using at least a portion of said content descriptors filtering said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, said system including:

• at least one processor;
• at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network;
• and
• memory;
• the system being configured or designed to filter said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages;
• said system being different than a recipient device.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, said system including:

• at least one processor;
• at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network;
• and
• memory;
• the system being configured or designed to receive a subscription request from at least one recipient device;
• and
• the system being further configured or designed to filter said messages using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages.

A computer program product for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, said computer program product including:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code comprising:
• computer code for filtering said messages at a node in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address using said content descriptors so as to limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein said node includes at least one output interface;
• and
• computer code for transmitting to said output interface only those messages associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface.

A computer program product for content-based filtering of multicast information distributed over a bi-directional data network, said computer program product including:

• a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code comprising:
• computer code for associating a content descriptor with messages including information in a set of categories;
• computer code for associating a multicast address with each said content descriptor;
• computer code for receiving a subscription request from at least one recipient device;
• and
• computer code for filtering said messages in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information, said information being included in a set of messages, said set of messages being associated with a set of content descriptors for a corresponding set of categories, each said content descriptor being associated with a corresponding multicast address, said system including:

• means for filtering said messages at a node in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address using said content descriptors so as to limit further distribution of said messages along said multicast tree;
• wherein said node includes at least one output interface;
• and
• means for transmitting to said output interface only those messages associated with a content descriptor for which there is at least one recipient associated with said content descriptor in the multicast tree for said output interface.

A system for content-based filtering of multicast information distributed over a bi-directional data network, said system including:

• means for associating a content descriptor with messages including information in a set of categories;
• means for associating a multicast address with each said content descriptor;
• means for receiving a subscription request from at least one recipient device;
• and
• means for filtering said messages in a multicast tree associated with at least one said multicast address using said content descriptors so as to limit distribution of said messages along said multicast tree only to selected recipient devices which have subscribed to receive said messages.