A method for decrementing a reference count in a multicast environment is provided
that includes receiving an access request for a particle stored in a memory element.
The memory unit is then accessed in response to the access request, the particle
being read from the memory element. The particle includes a plurality of data segments,
a selected one or more of which includes a first reference count associated with
the particle. The particle is then presented to a target that generated the access
request. The first reference count associated with the selected one or more data
segments is then decremented in order to generate a second reference count. At
least one of the plurality of data segments with the second reference count is
then written to the memory element.
