Apparatus and method for authenticating messages transmitted across different multicast domains

A method of transmitting messages between a first multicast domain and a second multicast domain, the first multicast domain having one or more first network devices, the second multicast domain having one or more second network devices, the method comprising:

• receiving a first domain message from the first domain for delivery to the second domain, the first domain message having first domain origin data, messages with first domain origin data originating from at least one of the first network devices;
• converting the received first domain message into a first intermediate message, the first intermediate message including intermediate data indicating that the intermediate message originated from a border network device;
• and
• forwarding the first intermediate message to a receiving second network device in the second domain;
• wherein the first intermediate message includes data that causes the receiving second network device to convert the first intermediate message into a second message, the second message including data indicating that the second message originated from one of the second network devices.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for transmitting messages between a first multicast domain and a second multicast domain, the first multicast domain having one or more first network devices, the second multicast domain having one or more second network devices, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

• program code for receiving a first domain message from the first domain for delivery to the second domain, the first domain message having first domain origin data, messages with first domain origin data originating from at least one of the first network devices;
• program code for converting the received first domain message into a first intermediate message, the first intermediate message including intermediate data indicating that the intermediate message originated from a border network device;
• and
• program code for forwarding the first intermediate message to a receiving second network device in the second domain;
• wherein the first intermediate message includes data that causes the receiving second network device to convert the first intermediate message into a second message, the second message including data indicating that the second message originated from one of the second network devices.

A border network device that transmits messages between a first multicast domain and a second multicast domain, the first multicast domain having one or more first network devices, the second multicast domain having one or more second network devices, the border network device comprising:

• an intermediate interface that receives a second intermediate message from the second domain, the second intermediate message including intermediate data indicating that the second intermediate message originated from one network devices, the second intermediate message being converted by the one of the second network devices from a second domain message including second domain data indicating that the second domain message originated from at least one of the second network devices;
• a first message converter that converts the received second intermediate message into a converted first domain message with first domain data, message with first domain data originating from one of the first network devices;
• and
• a first output that forwards the converted first domain message to at least one of the first network devices.

A method of transmitting messages between a fist multicast domain and a second multicast domain, the first multicast domain having one or more first network devices, the second multicast domain having one or more second network devices, the border network device comprising:

• receiving a second intermediate message from the second domain, the second intermediate message including intermediate data indicating that the second intermediate message originated from one of the second network devices, the second intermediate message being converted by the one of the second network devices from a second domain message including second domain data indicating that the second domain message originated from at least one of the second network devices;
• converting the received second intermediate message into a converted first domain message with first domain data, messages with first domain data originating from one of the first network devices;
• and
• forwarding the converted first domain message to at least one of the first network devices.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for transmitting messages between a first multicast domain and a second multicast domain, the first multicast domain having one or more first network devices, the second multicast domain having one or more second network devices, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

• program code for receiving a second intermediate message from the second domain, the second intermediate message including intermediate data indicating that the second intermediate message originated from one of the second network devices, the second intermediate message being converted by the one of the second network devices from a second domain message including second domain data indicating that the second domain message originated from at least one of the second network devices;
• program code for converting the received second intermediate message into a converted first domain message with first domain data, messages with first domain data originating from one of the first network devices;
• and
• program code for forwarding the converted first domain message to at least one of the first network devices.

A method of transmitting messages between a first multicast domain and a second multicast domain, the method comprising:

• receiving a first message from a first network device in the first domain, the first message having first identification data indicating that the first message originated from the first network device, the first message also having first domain origin data indicating that the first message originated in the first multicast domain;
• controlling a confirming network device to analyze the first identification data to determine that the first message originated from the first network device;
• adding second identification data to the first message to form an authenticated message, the second identification data indicating that the first message was authenticated by the confirming network device;
• and
• forwarding the authenticated message to a second network device in the second domain, the second network device adding third identification data to the first message, the third identification data indicating that the first message originated from the second network device, the second network device also adding second domain origin data to the first message, the second domain origin data indicating that the first message originated in the second multicast domain.