Method and system for presentation of multicast trees

• US 20080212584A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Breslau, Lee, Fenner, William C.
• Application Number:
  US11/713,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20080212584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A method and system for rendering a plurality of multicast trees for presentation on a display. A multicast routing state may be accessed from a plurality of routers in a multicast group. The multicast routing state may include identification of at least one of an upstream router or a downstream router. A plurality of multicast trees may be identified from the multicast routing state of the plurality of routers. Each of the plurality of multicast trees may indicate a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to selected routers among the plurality of routers. At least two of the plurality of multicast trees may be rendered on a display as an overlapping multicast tree. The overlapping multicast tree may include the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing a multicast routing state from a plurality of routers in a multicast group, the multicast routing state including identification of at least one of an upstream router or a downstream router;

identifying a plurality of multicast trees from the multicast routing state of the plurality of routers, each of the plurality of multicast trees indicating a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to selected routers among the plurality of routers; and

rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing a multicast routing state from a plurality of routers in a multicast group comprises:

receiving a multicast group address and an address of at least one sender; and

accessing a multicast routing state from a plurality of routers in a multicast group in response to the multicast group address and the address of at least one sender, the multicast routing state including identification of at least one of an upstream router or a downstream router

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying a plurality of multicast trees from the multicast routing state of the plurality of routers comprises:

identifying a shared tree using the multicast group address; and

identifying at least one source tree using the address of the at least one sender, the shared tree and the at least one source tree each indicating a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to selected routers among the plurality of routers.

4. The method of claim 1, where rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

identifying at least one turnaround point on at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, the at least one turnaround point being a first router on a first multicast tree on which the data packet is received, the first multicast tree and a second multicast tree including a path from the first router to the second router;

filtering the path between the first router and the second router on the first multicast tree from the plurality of paths for the at least one turnaround point; and

rendering the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the filtered plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein filtering the path between the first router and the second router on the first multicast tree comprises:

determining whether the second router has routing knowledge that the first multicast tree includes a path between the first router and the second router; and

filtering the path between the first router and the second router on the first multicast tree from the plurality of paths for the at least one turnaround point when the second router does not have the routing knowledge.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

rendering a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an upside down branching tree, the upside down branching tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the shared tree being in a first presentation format; and

rendering a source tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the upside down branching tree, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the source tree being in a second presentation format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

rendering a source tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an upside down branching tree, the upside down branching multicast tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the upside down branching tree being in a first presentation format; and

rendering a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the source tree, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the intersecting tree being in a second presentation format.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first presentation format is a first color and the second presentation format is a second color.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

rendering a plurality of source trees of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of expanding trees from a middle portion of the display, the plurality of expanding trees each including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of expanding trees in a different presentation format; and

rendering a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the plurality of expanding trees, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the intersecting tree in an additional presentation format.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

rendering a plurality of shared trees of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of expanding trees from a middle portion of the display, the plurality of expanding trees each including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of expanding trees being in a different presentation format; and

rendering a plurality of source trees of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of intersecting trees on the plurality of expanding trees, the plurality of intersecting trees each including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of intersecting trees each being in an additional presentation format.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree indicating the plurality of paths of a data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, each of the plurality of paths of a first multicast tree including a plurality of arrows pointing in an upward facing direction on the display, each of the plurality of paths of a second multicast tree including the plurality of arrows pointing in a downward facing direction on the display.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

generating at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees;

annotating at least one of the originating router, the selected routers, or the plurality of paths of the overlapping multicast tree with status information regarding the overlapping multicast tree; and

presenting the annotated overlapping multicast tree on a display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the status information is at least one of:

network health information regarding a multicast tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, or

per-group distribution rate of a number of data packets for the overlapping multicast tree.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an information request for a router chosen from the group of routers from an administrator; and

presenting information regarding the multicast routing entry of the chosen router on the display in response to the information request.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an access module to access a multicast routing state from a plurality of routers in a multicast group, the multicast routing state including identification of at least one of an upstream router or a downstream router;

an identifying module to identify a plurality of multicast trees from the multicast routing state of the plurality of routers, each of the plurality of multicast trees indicating a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to selected routers among the plurality of routers; and

a rendering module to render at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a turnaround determination module to identify at least one turnaround point on at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, the at least one turnaround point being a first router on a first multicast tree on which the data packet is received, the first multicast tree and a second multicast tree including a path from the first router to the second router; and

a filtering module to filter the path between the first router and the second router on the first multicast tree from the plurality of paths for the at least one turnaround point.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of multicast trees includes at least one source tree and at least one shared tree.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the originating router and the selected routers are all routers of the plurality of routers.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the multicast group is a plurality of multicast groups.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the multicast group supports services provided in a network selected from a group of services consisting of a virtual private network (VPN) service and an internet protocol television (IPTV) service.

21. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

access a multicast routing state from a plurality of routers in a multicast group, the multicast routing state including identification of at least one of an upstream router or a downstream router;

identify a plurality of multicast trees from the multicast routing state of the plurality of routers, each of the plurality of multicast trees indicating a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to selected routers among the plurality of routers; and

render at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein causing the machine to render at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree causes the machine to:

identify at least one turnaround point on at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, the at least one turnaround point being a first router on a first multicast tree on which the data packet is received, the first multicast tree and a second multicast tree including a path from the first router to the second router;

filter the path between the first router and the second router on the first multicast tree from the plurality of paths for the at least one turnaround point; and

render the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the filtered plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein causing the machine to render at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree causes the machine to:

render a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an upside down branching tree, the upside down branching tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the shared tree in a first presentation format; and

render a source tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the shared tree, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the source tree in a second presentation format.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein causing the machine to render at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree causes the machine to:

render a source tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an upside down branching tree, the upside down branching multicast tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the upside down branching tree in a first presentation format; and

render a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the source tree, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the intersecting tree in a second presentation format.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein causing the machine to render at least two of the plurality of multicast trees on a display as an overlapping multicast tree causes the machine to:

render a plurality of source trees of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of expanding trees from a middle portion of the display, the plurality of expanding trees each including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of expanding trees in a different presentation format; and

render a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the plurality of expanding trees, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the intersecting tree in an additional presentation format.

26. A method comprising:

displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to one or more selected routers for each of at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

27. The method of claim 26, where displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

identifying at least one turnaround point on at least two of a plurality of multicast trees, the at least one turnaround point being a first router on a first multicast tree on which the data packet is received, the first multicast tree and a second multicast tree including a path from the first router to the second router;

filtering the path between the first router and the second router on the first multicast tree from the plurality of paths for the at least one turnaround point; and

displaying the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including the filtered plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein display at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

rendering a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an upside down branching tree, the upside down branching tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the shared tree being in a first presentation format; and

rendering a source tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the upside down branching tree, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of the source tree being in a second presentation format.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

displaying a source tree of the at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an upside down branching tree, the upside down branching multicast tree including a plurality of paths for the data packet from an originating router to one or more selected routers, the plurality of paths of the upside down branching tree being in a first presentation format; and

displaying a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the source tree, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the one or more selected routers, the plurality of paths of the intersecting tree being in a second presentation format.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

displaying in a middle portion of a display a plurality of source trees of at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of expanding trees, the plurality of expanding trees each including a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to one or more selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of expanding trees in a different presentation format; and

displaying a shared tree of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as an intersecting tree to the plurality of expanding trees, the intersecting tree including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the one or more selected routers, the plurality of paths of the intersecting tree in an additional presentation format.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

displaying in a middle portion of a display a plurality of shared trees of at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of expanding trees, the plurality of expanding trees each including a plurality of paths for a data packet from an originating router to one or more selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of expanding trees being in a different presentation format; and

displaying a plurality of source trees of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees as a plurality of intersecting trees on the plurality of expanding trees, the plurality of intersecting trees each including the plurality of paths for the data packet from the originating router to the selected routers, the plurality of paths of each of the plurality of intersecting trees each being in an additional presentation format.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree indicating a plurality of paths of a data packet from an originating router to one or more selected routers for each of the at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, each of the plurality of paths of a first multicast tree including a plurality of arrows pointing in an upward facing direction on the display, each of the plurality of paths of a second multicast tree including the plurality of arrows pointing in a downward facing direction on the display.

33. A method comprising:

displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including a plurality of paths for a data packet in a network from an originating router to one or more selected routers for each of at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, the overlapping multicast tree including information used to identify a problem within the network; and

processing an alteration for the network, the alteration capable of at least partially resolving the problem regarding the network.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree comprises:

receiving a notification of a problem regarding a network, the network including a plurality of routers;

displaying at least two of a plurality of multicast trees as an overlapping multicast tree, the overlapping multicast tree including a plurality of paths for a data packet in the network from an originating router to one or more selected routers for each of at least two of the plurality of multicast trees, the overlapping multicast tree including information used to identify the problem within the network.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the problem regarding a network is a router problem with at least one router of the plurality of routers.