Forwarding tree generation in a communications network
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communications network to generate data defining a forwarding tree for the transmission of messages in said network, said method comprising:
- a) storing data associating each of the nodes of said network with at least one of N levels of a hierarchy, where N is an integer greater than one;
b) operating each of the nodes in each of the first to (N-1)th levels to send a join message to one of the nodes in a superior level in said hierarchy;
c) in response to the receipt of a join message at a node, storing tree-defining data indicating that the sender of said join message is a member of a group of descendant nodes for which said receiving node is an ancestor node;
whereby said tree-defining data so stored defines said forwarding tree.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of, computer programs for and apparatus adapted to operate a communications network to generate data defining a forwarding tree for the transmission of messages in said network, said method comprising:
a) storing data associating each of the nodes of said network with at least one of N levels of a hierarchy, where N is an integer greater than one;
b) operating each of the nodes in each of the first to (N-1)th levels to periodically send a join message to one of the nodes in a superior level in said hierarchy;
c) in response to the receipt of a join message at a node, storing tree-defining data indicating that the sender of said join message is a member of a group of descendant nodes for which said receiving node is an ancestor node; whereby said tree-defining data so stored defines said forwarding tree.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a communications network to generate data defining a forwarding tree for the transmission of messages in said network, said method comprising:
-
a) storing data associating each of the nodes of said network with at least one of N levels of a hierarchy, where N is an integer greater than one;
b) operating each of the nodes in each of the first to (N-1)th levels to send a join message to one of the nodes in a superior level in said hierarchy;
c) in response to the receipt of a join message at a node, storing tree-defining data indicating that the sender of said join message is a member of a group of descendant nodes for which said receiving node is an ancestor node;
whereby said tree-defining data so stored defines said forwarding tree. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification