Virtual channel multicast utilizing virtual path tunneling in asynchronous mode transfer networks

In an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network) a method of establishing multicast connections from a multicast source Virtual Circuit (VC) switch to a plurality of multicast destination VC switches, said source VC switch and said plurality of destination VC switches connected to a public ATM Virtual Path (VP) switched network, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a plurality of point to point (P2P) permanent virtual path (PVP) tunnels, a separate P2P PVP tunnel established from said multicast source VC switch to each multicast destination VC switch, each P2P PVP tunnel being assigned a unique VPI value;
• establishing a point to multipoint (P2M) PVP tunnel between said multicast source VC switch and each multicast destination VC switch, said P2M PVP tunnel assigned a unique VPI value different from VPI values assigned to said plurality of P2P tunnels;
• assigning a VPI/VCI value to each multicast call to be established wherein the VPI value corresponds to the VPI value assigned to said P2M PVP tunnel, the VCI value assigned being unique for all multicast calls to be carried over said P2M PVP tunnel;
• registering each multicast call with one or more multicast destination VC switches intended to be included in said multicast call;
• and
• transmitting multicast traffic of all P2M calls carried by the physical interface associated therewith from said multicast source VC switch via said P2M PVP tunnel;
• filtering multicast cells at each multicast destination VC switch in accordance with multicast calls previously registered therewith.