Importance

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus for optimizing IP multicast data transmission in a mobile IP environment include a Foreign Agent that is capable of receiving an information request associated with a host membership report sent from a mobile node and for providing information identifying a Home Agent associated with the mobile node to a multicast router process to enable the multicast router process to send a join host group message to the Home Agent. A Home Agent receives the join host group message and sends the join host group message toward a source of IP multicast data packets. Both the Foreign Agent and the Home Agent set up a data path between the Home Agent and the Foreign Agent, thereby enabling data packets addressed to the multicast group address to be forwarded by the Home Agent to the Foreign Agent. The Home Agent does not replicate multicast IP data packets addressed to the multicast group address prior to being forwarded by the Home Agent to the Foreign Agent. Rather, the multicast router process is responsible for replication and transmission of multicast IP data packets to one or more network segments associated with the Foreign Agent.

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First Claim