Patent attributes
A data multicast implementation method, apparatus, and system are provided. In some embodiments, a transmission device receives a standby forwarding path establishment request, where the standby forwarding path establishment request includes a device identifier, has a destination address being an address of a multicast source device, and is used to request to establish a standby forwarding path between a multicast destination device identified by the device identifier and the multicast source device. In those embodiments, when determining, based on the device identifier in the standby forwarding path establishment request, that the transmission device is located on an active forwarding path between the multicast destination device and the multicast source device, the transmission device skips using the transmission device as a device on the standby forwarding path between the multicast destination device and the multicast source device, and skips forwarding the standby forwarding path establishment request.