METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED MULTICAST ROUTING

The invention includes a method and apparatus for transmitting packets in a network comprising a plurality of nodes. A method includes encapsulating a packet intended for at least one of the nodes where the packet is encapsulated using a bit set, comparing the bit set of the packet and a bit mask of an interface, and forwarding the packet over the interface in response to a determination that the comparison of the bit set and the bit mask indicates that one of the nodes for which the packet is intended is the same as one of the nodes available from the interface. The bit set and bit mask each include bit positions associated with the respective plurality of nodes. The bit positions of the bit set and bit mask identify each of the at least one of the nodes for which the packet is intended and each of the nodes available from the interface, respectively.