In Search of an API for Scalable Reliable Multicast

There are many scenarios in which the same data must be delivered over a packet switched network to a large set of receivers. For instance, video programming may be sent over a network much like a TV show is sent over the airwaves. As another example, network transmissions of popular software releases may attract millions of users request the same file at the same time. Finally, popular web pages can have a very large number of simultaneous users.