In the hybrid PPPoE/IPoE broadband access network, the multi cast transmission which is optimized

摘要

An access node (e.g., DSLAM) and method for optimizing the distribution of a multicast stream within a hybrid PPPoE/IPoE broadband access network are described herein. In the preferred embodiment, the DSLAM snoops upstream IGMP messages encapsulated within PPPoE frames, and forwards them transparently towards a BRAS (located in an Ethernet aggregation network). In addition, the DSLAM duplicates the IGMP message and sends the duplicated IGMP message encapsulated within IPoE frames towards the standard Ethernet switches (located in the Ethernet aggregation network). The IPoE encapsulated IGMP message can be snooped by the standard Ethernet switches. This functionality of the DSLAM ensures the optimal multicast distribution by the Ethernet aggregation network.