Method and apparatus for improved IGMP group membership messaging

1. A method of distributing an Internet Group Membership Protocol version 3 (IGMPv3) General Membership Query (GMQ) Report message processing load, comprising:

receiving a GMQ with an IGMPv3 host;

extracting, with the IGMPv3 host, a <max 13 records> variable from the GMQ;

deriving with the IGMPv3 host, a max records number from the <max 13 records> variable;

determining, with the IGMPv3 host, a number of current-state Group Records;

computing, with the IGMPv3 host, a required number of timers to respond to the GMQ by dividing the number of current-state Group Records by the max records number;

starting, with the IQMPv3 host, the required number of timers, wherein each timer has a random interval before expiration; and

sending, with the IGMPv3 host, a Report message upon expiration of each timer, the Report message containing up to the max 13 records number of the current-state Group Records.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the deriving step further comprises:

computing, with the IGMPv3 host, 2 n , where ‘n’ is a value of the <max 13 records> variable, to derive the max 13 records number.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the deriving step further comprises:

using, in the IGMPv3 host, a value of the <max 13 records> variable as the max 13 records number.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deriving step further comprises:

inserting, with the IGMPv3 proxy/router, the <max 13 records> variable into the GMQ.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inserting step further comprises:

inserting, with the IGMPv3 proxy/router, the <max 13 records> variable into a Resv field of the GMQ.

6. A computer readable medium including computer program instructions that when executed by a computer distribute an Internet Group Membership Protocol version 3 (IGMPv3) General Membership Query (GMQ) Report message processing load in an Internet Group Membership Protocol version 3 (IGMPv3) host, comprising:

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, that derive a max 13 records number from a <max 13 records> variable;

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, that compute a number of General Membership Query (GMQ) response timers by dividing a number of current-State Group Records by the max 13 records number;

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, that start the computed number of response timers and assign a random interval before expiration to each timer; and

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, that insert the Max 13 records number of the current-state Group Records into a Report message upon expiration of each timer.

7. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, that extract the <max 13 records> variable from the GMQ.

8. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 7 , wherein program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, extract the <max 13 records> variable from the Resv field of the GMQ.

9. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 6 , wherein program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, compute 2 n , where ‘n’ is a value of the <max 13 records> variable, to derive the max 13 records number.

10. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 6 , wherein program instructions, in the IGMPv3 host, determine a binary value of the <max 13 records> variable to derive the max 13 records number.

11. A computer readable medium including computer program instructions that when executed by a computer serve a plurality of Internet Group Membership Protocol version 3 (IGMPv3) hosts through a plurality of interfaces in an Internet Group Membership Protocol version 3 (IGMPv3) Digital Subscriber Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), comprising:

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 hosts, that derive a max records number from a <max 13 records> variable;

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 hosts, that compute a number of General Membership Query (GMQ) response timers by dividing a number of current-state Group Records b the max records number;

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 hosts, that start the computed number of response timers and assign a random interval before expiration to each timer; and

program instructions, in the IGMPv3 hosts, that insert the max 13 records number of the current-state Group Records into a Report message upon expiration of each timer.

12. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11 , wherein program instructions, in the IGMPv3 hosts, insert the <max 13 records> variable in a Resv field of each of the plurality of GMQs.

13. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11 , wherein program instructions, in the IGMPv3 hosts, retrieve a different <max 13 records> variable for each of the plurality of interfaces.