DirCast: A Practical and Efficient Wi-Fi Multicast System

Abstract--IP multicast applications such as live lecture broadcasts are being increasingly used in enterprise and campus networks. In many cases, end hosts access these multicast streams using Wi-Fi networks. However, multicast over Wi-Fi suffers from several well-known problems such as low data rate, high losses and unfairness vis-a-vis other contending unicast transmissions. In this paper we present DirCast, a system to solve many of these problems. DirCast requires no changes to the 802.11 MAC protocol or the wireless access points. Software changes are required on clients only if they wish to participate in multicast sessions. The aim of DirCast system is to minimize the airtime consumed by the multicast traffic, while simultaneously improving client experience. To meet these goals, the DirCast converts multicast packets to unicast packets targeted to certain selected clients; other clients receive these packets by listening in promiscuous mode. The target clients are carefully sel...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: ICNP
• Authors: Ranveer Chandra, Sandeep Karanth, Thomas Moscibroda, Vishnu Navda, Jitendra Padhye, Ramachandran Ramjee, Lenin Ravindranath
• Keywords: Computer Networks, ICNP 2009, Loss Rate, Multicast, Virtual Multicast Interface