Systems and methods for reducing multicast traffic over a network

1. A method for reducing multicast traffic over a network, the method comprising:

receiving a second ranking indicator at a second node of the network;

receiving a control request at the second node of the network, wherein the control request comprises a request to recognize a first node that sent the request as a controlling node that manages other nodes in the network;

comparing a value of a first ranking indicator associated with the control request with a value of the second ranking indicator associated with the second node that received the control request, each of the ranking indicators indicating capabilities of an associated node, wherein the comparison results in at least one node not being designated as the controlling node, and wherein the value of the ranking indicator of an acting controlling node is adjusted to allow a determining of the controlling node in the event that another ranking indicator is the same;

generating a first response to the control request indicating whether the first node may be designated as the controlling node;

randomly storing the first response in a queue;

receiving a second response associated with the control request;

removing the first response from the queue when the second response is authenticated; and

randomly selecting the first response from the queue when the second response is not authenticated.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the second response associated with the control request.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first response is multicast to additional nodes over the network.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first response is multicast to additional nodes over the network if the second response is not authenticated.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first response is generated if the first ranking indicator associated with the control request is less than the second ranking indicator associated with the second node that received the control request.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining if a data packet includes the control request.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control request is multicast to a plurality of nodes over the network.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second response is multicast to a plurality of nodes over the network.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining if a data packet includes the second response.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a value of each of the ranking indicators changes based on the capabilities of the associated node.

11. A computer system that is configured to reduce multicast traffic over a network, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:

receive a second ranking indicator;

receive a control request, wherein the control request comprises a request to recognize a first node that sent the request as a controlling node that manages other nodes in the network;

compare a value of a first ranking indicator associated with the control request with a value of the second ranking indicator associated with a second node that received the control request, each of the ranking indicators indicating capabilities of an associated node, wherein the comparison results in at least one node not being designated as the controlling node, and wherein the value of the ranking indicator of an acting controlling node is adjusted to allow a determining of the controlling node in the event that another ranking indicator is the same;

generate a first response to the control request indicating whether the first node may be designated as the controlling node;

randomly store the first response in a queue;

receive a second response associated with the control request;

remove the first response from the queue when the second response is authenticated; and

randomly select the first response from the queue when the second response is not authenticated.

12. The computer system of claim 11 , further comprising the second response associated with the control request being authenticated.

13. The computer system of claim 11 , wherein the first response is generated if the first ranking indicator associated with the control request is less than the second ranking indicator associated with the second node that received the control request.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for reducing multicast traffic over a network, the instructions being executable to:

receive a second ranking indicator;

receive a control request, wherein the control request comprises a request to recognize a first node that sent the request as a controlling node that manages other nodes in the network;

compare a value of a first ranking indicator associated with the control request with a value of the second ranking indicator associated with a second node that received the control request, each of the ranking indicators indicating capabilities of an associated node, wherein the comparison results in at least one node not being designated as the controlling node, and wherein the value of the ranking indicator of an acting controlling node is adjusted to allow a determining of the controlling node in the event that another ranking indicator is the same;

generate a first response to the control request indicating whether the first node may be designated as the controlling node;

randomly store the first response in a queue;

receive a second response associated with the control request;

remove the first response from the queue when the second response is authenticated; and

randomly select the first response from the queue when the second response is not authenticated.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions are further executable to authenticate the second response associated with the control request.