【摘要】 多点通信是网络支持多媒体业务的关键技术之一。本文在不同优化选路准则下，结合当前应用背景介绍了基于最短路径和共享树的多点路由算法及其应用环境和性能分析，在此基础上对有关协议进行了讨论，最后结合多媒体业务的特征分析了多点路由算法的几个发展方向，以期对多点通信的路由问题最近和将来的研究给出必要的背景。更多还原

【Abstract】 Multicast is becoming a key requirement of networks supporting multimedia applications.Considering different criteria,MC routing algorithms based on shortest path and Steiner tree are introduced,and the application environment,complexity,performance are given.Related protocols are discussed as well.Finally,based on the property of multimedia service,several developments of MC algorithm are analyzed.This paper is intended to introduce this special issue with the necessary background on recent and ongoing research.更多还原