Importance

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Abstract

Network-units (4) comprising multicast driver devices (3) handle multicast messages efficiently by providing the multicast driver devices (3) with memory nodes (1,2) arranged in rows and/or columns, with a memory node (1,2) comprising a memory element (31-33) for memorizing a state of the memory node (1,2). Large numbers of multicast cells/groups like multicast cells and/or multicast groups can be served advantageously. M.times.N memory nodes (1,2) are arranged in M rows and N columns, with a memory node (1,2) comprising an engagement line (11), an unavailability line (12) and an identification line (13) per row and a request line (21), an acknowledgement line (22) and a selection line (23) per column. A memory element (31,32) memorizes a state indicating a destination port being used for a multicast cell/group, and a further memory element (33) indicates a state requesting a generation of a multicast copy for a destination port, all according to a rule of exclusiveness.

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First Claim