SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT MULTICAST HANDLING

• US 20100165990A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: FERGUSON, Dennis, CHUANG, Tatao, CHEN, Chi-Chung K., LIM, Raymond, PATEL, Pankaj, BASU, Debashis, LACROUTE, Philippe, SINDHU, Pradeep, GODBOLE, Avanindra, CHEUNG, Gerald, LIBBY, Jeffrey G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A network device constructs a notification corresponding to a received multicast data unit, where the notification includes administrative data associated with the multicast data unit that does not include a payload of the multicast data unit. The network device replicates the notification at least three different processing elements at different locations in a processing path of the network device to produce multiple replicated data items and produces a copy of the multicast data unit for each of replicated notifications. The network device forwards each copy of the multicast data unit towards a multicast destination.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

constructing a data item corresponding to a received multicast data unit;

replicating the data item at least three different processing elements at different locations in a processing path of one network device to produce multiple replicated data items;

producing a copy of the multicast data unit for each of replicated data items; and

forwarding each copy of the multicast data unit towards a multicast destination from the one network device.

2-20. -20. (canceled)