Group communication in large-scale interactive applications such as real-time conferencing and collaboration, networked virtual environments (e.g. massively multi-player games) requires efficient, low-overhead group communication mechanisms. In this paper we consider the application-level (or end-system) multicast and propose a stateless group communication mechanism together with its tree building algorithms. Stateless multicast reduces the control signaling of dynamic multicast groups linearly with the group size. To support interactive applications involving a large number of dynamic multicast groups, the application level multicast uses stateless forwarding within clusters of network nodes and hierarchical aggregation of multicast group membership. We show that dynamic tree construction achieve low computation overhead with a controlled degradation of the end-to-end data path performance.
By: George Popescu, Zhen Liu
Published in: RC23290 in 2004
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE:
This Research Report is available. This report has been submitted for publication outside of IBM and will probably be copyrighted if accepted for publication. It has been issued as a Research Report for early dissemination of its contents. In view of the transfer of copyright to the outside publisher, its distribution outside of IBM prior to publication should be limited to peer communications and specific requests. After outside publication, requests should be filled only by reprints or legally obtained copies of the article (e.g., payment of royalties). I have read and understand this notice and am a member of the scientific community outside or inside of IBM seeking a single copy only.
Questions about this service can be mailed to reports@us.ibm.com .