Downstream Multicast forwarding for contents sharing in DOCSIS

This paper proposes a method of multicast session management, input packet classification and multicast contents sharing sequence for multicast contents sharing in Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) over Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network. The proposed Multicast contents sharing algorithm enables service flows to be classified in the input data streams. And then, it also enables the classified flows to be transmitted with minimizing downstream replication to groups including subscribers who requested those flows. This system with the proposed algorithm enables linear broadcasting using IP multicast, Video on Demand (VOD) services to be efficiently transmitted without downstream replication.