Method and apparatus for media distribution using VPLS in a ring topology

• US 20070220175A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Operations Incorporated (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Khanna, Sanjay, Medikonda, Ravi, Dillon, Granville
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/251
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/42 Loop networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

A method or corresponding apparatus is employed for distributing media on a ring network. Multiple nodes and communications links are configured to distribute media in the ring network. Distribution of the media is disabled on a communications link between a selected pair of adjacent nodes in the ring network in a manner maintaining communications between the selected pair of adjacent nodes other than for distribution of the media. This configuration results in a “horseshoe” topology of the ring network with respect to the media, where distribution of the media on the ring network occurs in one or two downstream directions from head-end ingress node(s) on the ring network. Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) may be employed to transport the media. In an event of a link or node failure, the disabled link is enabled, allowing for continued distribution of the media with network recovery in a timeframe typically unobservable by an end user.

Claims

1. A method of distributing media on a ring topology communications network, comprising:

configuring multiple nodes and communications links to distribute media in a ring network; and

disabling distribution of the media on a communications link between a selected pair of adjacent nodes in the ring network in a manner maintaining communications between the selected pair of adjacent nodes other than for distribution of the media.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising distributing the media to the multiple nodes including the selected pair of adjacent nodes.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein disabling distribution of the media between the selected pair of adjacent nodes includes disabling distribution of the media on a communications link between adjacent head-end ingress nodes that receive the media downstream from a head-end node that receives the media from a node external from the ring network.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

adding the media to a head-end ingress node on the ring network; and

distributing the media from the head-end ingress node in two downstream directions around the ring network other than on the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein, in an event of a failure (i) in a communications link other than between the selected pair of adjacent nodes or (ii) of a node other than one of the selected adjacent nodes, enabling the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes to distribute the media.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

configuring a pair of head-end ingress nodes on the ring network to receive media on separate communications paths from a node external from the ring network;

disabling distribution of the media on a communications link between the head-end ingress nodes; and

configuring the pair of head-end ingress nodes on the ring network to distribute the media on the ring network in respective downstream directions.

7. The method according to claim 6 further including in an event of a failure (i) of a communications link other than a communications link between the head-end ingress nodes or the selected pair of adjacent nodes in the ring network or (ii) a node other than a head-end ingress node in the ring network, enabling distribution of media on the communications link between the pair of head-end ingress nodes and the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes.

8. The method according to claim 6 further including, in an event a head-end ingress node in the pair of head-end ingress nodes fails, enabling distribution of the media on the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein configuring the multiple nodes and communications links includes employing a Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) to distribute the media.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

configuring at least a subset of the nodes to drop the media locally;

or

running a protocol associated with respective nodes that determines if the media is to be dropped locally by the respective nodes.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein configuring the multiple nodes includes signaling or provisioning Label Switched Paths (LSPs) between adjacent nodes.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein configuring the multiple nodes and communications links includes configuring Layer 2 communications on the ring network.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein disabling distribution of the media on the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes defines a static logical break in the ring topology.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the media includes video content.

15. A network, comprising:

multiple nodes and communications links configured to distribute media in a ring network; and

a communications link between a selected pair of adjacent nodes in the ring network disabled in a manner maintaining communications between the selected pair of adjacent nodes other than to distribute the media.

16. The network according to claim 15 wherein the multiple nodes distribute the media, including to the selected pair of adjacent nodes.

17. The network according to claim 15 wherein the selected pair of adjacent nodes receive the media downstream from a head-end ingress node on the ring topology that receives the media from a node external from the ring topology.

18. The network according to claim 15 further comprising a head-end ingress node configured to add the media on the ring network and distribute the media in two downstream directions around the ring network other than on the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes.

19. The network according to claim 15 wherein, in an event of a failure (i) in a communications link other than between the selected pair of adjacent nodes or (ii) of a node other than one of the selected adjacent nodes, the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes is, enabled to distribute the media.

20. The network according to claim 15 further comprising:

a pair of head-end ingress nodes on the ring network coupled to a node external from the ring topology via separate communications paths that add the media to the ring network in respective downstream directions from the pair of head-end ingress nodes; and

a communications link between the pair of head-end ingress nodes disabled from distributing the media.

21. The network according to claim 20 wherein, in an event of a failure (i) of a communications link other than a communications link between the head-end ingress nodes or the selected pair of adjacent nodes in the ring network or (ii) a node other than a head-end ingress node in the ring network, the communications link between the pair of head-end ingress nodes and the link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes are enabled to distribute the media.

22. The network according to claim 20 wherein, in an event one of the nodes of the pair of head-end ingress nodes fails, the communications link between the selected pair of adjacent nodes is enabled to distribute the media.

23. The network according to claim 15 wherein the multiple nodes and communications links are configured using Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) to distribute the media.

24. The network according to claim 15 wherein:

at least a subset of the nodes are configured to drop the media locally;

or further comprising;

a protocol associated with respective nodes that determines that the media is to be dropped locally by the respective nodes.

25. The network according to claim 15 wherein the multiple nodes are provisioned using Label Switched Paths (LSPs) between adjacent nodes.

26. The network according to claim 15 wherein the multiple nodes and communications links are configured using Layer 2 communications on the ring network.

27. The network according to claim 15 wherein the communications link disabled between the selected pair of adjacent nodes defines a static logical break in the ring network.

28. The network according to claim 15 wherein the media includes video content.