US Patent 11570011 Multicast packet handling based on flow cache information

Example methods and systems for multicast packet handling based on flow cache information are described. In one example, a network element may configure flow cache information associated with a multicast flow. The flow cache information may specify a set of actions that is configured based on a sequence of function calls. In response to detecting a multicast packet associated with the multicast flow, fast-path processing may be performed based on the flow cache information. This may include executing a replication action to generate a first packet replica and a second packet replica. First processing action(s) may be executed to process the first packet replica to generate and send a first output packet towards a first multicast destination. Second processing action(s) may be executed to process the second packet replica to generate and send a first output packet towards a second multicast destination.