METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR MONITORING SUBSOURCE ADDRESSING MULTICAST DISTRIBUTION TREES

• US 20080117905A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Novaes, Marcos N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/484 using multiple routing trees
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/488 using root node determination

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for monitoring at least one interconnection between at least two nodes in a distributed network. At least one subscriber node is prompted to ascertain the integrity of an interconnection with at least one parent node.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring at least one interconnection between at least two nodes in a distributed network, said method comprising the steps of:

designating at least one of the nodes as at least one subscriber node;

designating a parent node for each subscriber node; and

prompting at least one subscriber node to ascertain the integrity of an interconnection with at least one parent node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said prompting step comprises periodically prompting at least one subscriber node to send a verification message to at least one parent node to ascertain the integrity of an in interconnection with at least one parent node.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

designating one of the nodes as a publisher node, the publisher node and at least one subscriber node forming a distribution tree; and

prompting at least one subscriber node to request reinsertion in the distribution tree upon the failure of at least one parent node to respond to a verification message.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one subscriber node comprises at least two subscriber nodes;

said prompting step comprising periodically prompting each subscriber node to ascertain the integrity of an interconnection between each subscriber node and its parent node.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selectively ascertaining the quality-of-service associated with at least one subscriber node.

6. An apparatus for monitoring at least one interconnection between at least two nodes in a distributed network, said apparatus comprising:

an arrangement for designating at least one of the nodes as at least one subscriber node;

an arrangement for designating a parent node for each subscriber node; and

an arrangement for prompting at least one subscriber node to ascertain the integrity of an interconnection with at least one parent node.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said prompting arrangement is adapted to periodically prompt at least one subscriber node to send a verification message to at least one parent node to ascertain the integrity of an in interconnection with at least one parent node.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

an arrangement for designating one of the nodes as a publisher node, the publisher node and at least one subscriber node forming a distribution tree; and

an arrangement for prompting at least one subscriber node to request reinsertion in the distribution tree upon the failure of at least one parent node to respond to a verification message.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said at least one subscriber node comprises at least two subscriber nodes;

said prompting arrangement is adapted to periodically prompt each subscriber node to ascertain the integrity of an interconnection between each subscriber node and its parent node.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an arrangement for selectively ascertaining the quality-of-service associated with at least one subscriber node.

11. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for monitoring at least one interconnection between at least two nodes in a distributed network, said method comprising the steps of:

designating at least one of the nodes as at least one subscriber node;

designating a parent node for each subscriber node; and

prompting at least one subscriber node to ascertain the integrity of an interconnection with at least one parent node.