Abstract
The need for better adaptation of networks
to transported flows has led to research on new
approaches such as content aware networks and
network aware applications. In parallel, recent
developments of multimedia and content oriented
services and applications such as IPTV, video
streaming, video on demand, and Internet TV
reinforced interest in multicast technologies. IP
multicast has not been widely deployed due to
interdomain and QoS support problems; therefore,
alternative solutions have been investigated.
This article proposes a management driven
hybrid multicast solution that is multi-domain
and media oriented, and combines overlay multicast,
IP multicast, and P2P. The architecture is
developed in a content aware network and network
aware application environment, based on
light network virtualization. The multicast trees
can be seen as parallel virtual content aware networks,
spanning a single or multiple IP domains,
customized to the type of content to be transported
while fulfilling the quality of service
requirements of the service provider.