System and method for sending packets over a computer network

A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for routing a first packet received in a multicast format, the operations comprising:

• receiving the first packet, the first packet having individual fields that collectively include a first destination address and at least one of a multicast address and a parameter corresponding to the multicast address;
• identifying a second destination address associated with the multicast address;
• converting the first packet into a second packet corresponding to a unicast format associated with the second destination address;
• forwarding the second packet to the second destination address via a unicast only network segment;
• and
• forwarding an unconverted first packet to the first destination address according to the multicast format.

A packet forwarding system, comprising:

• a first server coupled to a second server via a unicast only network segment and also coupled to a network node,
• wherein the first server is configured to forward individual data packets by performing operations comprising:
• receiving a first packet in a multicast format having a corresponding multicast address;
• examining the multicast address and, based upon the multicast address, associating a forwarding rules set with the first packet based on the multicast address;
• converting the first packet into a second packet having a unicast format based on an individual destination address associated with the multicast address;
• transmitting the second packet to the individual destination address via the unicast only network segment;
• and
• transmitting an unconverted first packet to a multicast network segment coupled to the network node.

A packet forwarding system of a computer, comprising:

• means for receiving a first packet according to a multicast format, the first packet having individual fields that collectively include at least one of a multicast address and a parameter corresponding to the multicast address;
• means for examining the multicast address and, based upon the multicast address, associating a forwarding rule set with the first packet based on the multicast address, the forwarding rule set including a plurality of destination addresses corresponding to the multicast address;
• means for converting the first packet into a second packet that is based on a unicast format of a first individual destination address within the forwarding rule set;
• means for forwarding the second packet to the first individual destination address via a unicast only network segment;
• and
• means for forwarding an unconverted first packet to a second individual destination address within the forwarding rule set corresponding to the multicast address.

A method performed by a computer for forwarding packets over a computer network comprising:

• receiving a first packet according to a multicast format, the first packet having individual fields that collectively include at least one of a multicast address and a parameter corresponding to the multicast address;
• examining the multicast address and, based upon the multicast address, associating a forwarding rule set with the first packet based on the multicast address, the forwarding rule set including a plurality of destination addresses corresponding to the multicast address;
• converting the first packet into a second packet that is based on a unicast format of a first individual destination address within the forwarding rule set;
• forwarding the second packet to the first individual destination address via a unicast only network segment;
• and
• forwarding an unconverted first packet to a second individual destination address within the forwarding rule set corresponding to the multicast address.