Quantitative prediction of NACK-oriented reliable multicast (norm) feedback

We have applied the concept of truncated exponential timers for efficient reliable multicast feedback suppression for cases of both multicast and unicast feedback channels. Unicast feedback operation for multicast transport is becoming a more prevalent concern with the advent of source specific multicast routing and asymmetric networks of offering forward-based multicast (e.g., satellite distribution network). We discuss our approach to the design and its integration with a working reliable multicast protocol. We then present simulation results demonstrating that observed implementation performance matches the analytically predicted performance. Finally, we formulate a quantitative predictor of reliable multicast protocol feedback traffic levels.