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A host that receives a membership query from a local router can respond with a host membership report, one report for each joined multicast group. A host that receives a query delays its reply by a random interval and listens for a reply from any other host in the same host group.
Upon initialization, the host may immediately issue a report for each of its supported multicast groups. The router accepts and processes these asynchronous reports the same way it accepts requested reports.
After hosts and routers are in a steady state, they communicate in a way that minimizes the exchange of queries and reports. The designated routers set up a path between the IP Multicast stream source and the end stations and periodically query the end stations about whether or not to continue participation. As long as any client continues to participate, all clients, including nonparticipating end stations on the switch port, receive the IP multicast stream.