Core assisted mesh protocol for multicast routing in ad-hoc Networks

A method of allowing a host to join a multicast mesh for multicast communication within a wireless network, comprising:

• determining an address of a first multicast group to which said host desires to join;
• interacting with a first designated router, by said host, requesting that it gain membership in said first multicast group;
• announcing membership in the first multicast group if the first designated router joining has multiple neighboring routers which are duplex members of the first multicast group;
• and
• sending a join request for membership in the first multicast group to neighboring routers if one or fewer of the neighboring routers are duplex members of the first multicast group.

A method of maintaining shortest path routes within a group's mesh populated with routers, comprising:

• caching packet identifiers of forwarded packets in a cache;
• forwarding a multicast packet from a neighboring router if the packet identifier is not contained within the cache;
• and
• transmitting heartbeat messages whenever traffic arrives through a path from a source that is not a reverse shortest path, wherein the heartbeat message is configured to trigger a push join to correct routing;
• wherein the reverse shortest path is a shortest path from the receive to the source.