Methods and arrangements for establishing a group collaboration session utilizing multiple multicast distribution trees

1. A method of establishing group collaboration between different distributed networks, said method comprising the steps of:

designating at least two publisher nodes, wherein at least one publisher node is disposed within a first distributed network and at least one publisher node is disposed within a second distributed network;

establishing at least one interconnection between said at least two publisher nodes;

designating at least two subscriber nodes; and

prompting said at least two publisher nodes to generate individual distribution trees associated with each publisher node, wherein each individual distribution tree includes at least one subscriber node.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of establishing at least one distribution tree solely among said at least two publisher nodes.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of establishing at least one distribution tree comprises the step of establishing multiple and concurrent distribution trees among said at least two publisher nodes.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said step of establishing multiple and concurrent distribution trees comprises establishing a number of distribution trees equivalent to the number of publisher nodes.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of organizing said multiple and concurrent distribution trees to ensure a balance in hierarchies represented by said multiple and concurrent distribution trees.

6. An apparatus for establishing group collaboration between different distributed networks, said apparatus comprising:

an arrangement for designating at least two publisher nodes, wherein at least one publisher node is disposed within a first distributed network and at least one publisher node is disposed within a second distributed network;

an arrangement for establishing at least one interconnection between said at least two publisher nodes;

an arrangement for designating at least two subscriber nodes; and

an arrangement for prompting said at least two publisher nodes to generate individual distribution trees associated with each publisher node, wherein each individual distribution tree includes at least one subscriber node.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising an arrangement for establishing at least one distribution tree solely among said at least two publisher nodes.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said arrangement for establishing at least one distribution tree is adapted to establish multiple and concurrent distribution trees among said at least two publisher nodes.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said arrangement for establishing at least one distribution tree is adapted to establish a number of distribution trees equivalent to the number of publisher nodes.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising an arrangement for organizing said multiple and concurrent distribution trees to ensure a balance in hierarchies represented by said multiple and concurrent distribution trees.

11. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps establishing group collaboration between different distributed networks, said method comprising the steps of:

designating at least two publisher nodes, wherein at least one publisher node is disposed within a first distributed network and at least one publisher node is disposed within a second distributed network;

establishing at least one interconnection between said at least two publisher nodes;

designating at least two subscriber nodes; and

prompting said at least two publisher nodes to generate individual distribution trees associated with each publisher node, wherein each individual distribution tree includes at least one subscriber node.