The University of British Columbia

This paper proposed a receiver-driven layered multicast scheme using active networks (RLM-AN). The multicast tree is regarded as a set of virtual links. TCP-friendly congestion control and FEC-based error control are performed on each virtual link. In order to solve the loss path multiplicity problem, the intermediate active nodes also perform error recovery. By introducing congestion control and error mechanisms in active nodes inside the network, we obtain smoother and more TCP-friendly throughputs and quicker response to congestion inside the network and much lower packet loss rate.