Virtual circuit manager for multicast messaging
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a multicast virtual circuit in an arbitrary-topology network between a source nude and a group of destination nodes, said method comprising the steps of:
- creating a multicast setup packet at the source node for transfer to the group destination nodes, said multicast setup packet containing a multicast identifier field for storing a unique multicast identifier value, a virtual circuit field and a destination field identifying the group of destination nodes receiving said multicast setup packet;
allocating selected switches and interconnecting links of said network as elements of said multicast virtual circuits for receiving said multicast setup packet through generating entries of a forwarding table located within an allocated switch, said entries containing routing information pertaining to the outgoing ports associated with the group of destination nodes contained within said destination field of said multicast setup packet to open said multicast virtual circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multicast connection arrangement is provided by which a source node may establish multicast virtual circuits to a group of destination nodes of an arbitrary-topology network using a single procedure, and may subsequently modify those circuits, i.e., add or delete destination nodes, with a single, related procedure. The arrangement includes a multicast setup packet for opening the multicast virtual circuits, the packet containing a multicast identifier field, a virtual circuit field and a destination field identifying a list of desired destination node addresses. The multicast setup packet may be also used to add destination nodes to the circuits while a multicast delete packet is used to delete nodes from the circuits. When adding nodes to the multicast virtual circuits, a topology analysis process is provided to prevent the formation of an unstable network topology.
204 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a multicast virtual circuit in an arbitrary-topology network between a source nude and a group of destination nodes, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating a multicast setup packet at the source node for transfer to the group destination nodes, said multicast setup packet containing a multicast identifier field for storing a unique multicast identifier value, a virtual circuit field and a destination field identifying the group of destination nodes receiving said multicast setup packet; allocating selected switches and interconnecting links of said network as elements of said multicast virtual circuits for receiving said multicast setup packet through generating entries of a forwarding table located within an allocated switch, said entries containing routing information pertaining to the outgoing ports associated with the group of destination nodes contained within said destination field of said multicast setup packet to open said multicast virtual circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An arrangement for establishing multicast virtual circuits in an arbitrary-topology network between a source node and a group of destination nodes, said arrangement comprising:
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means for creating a multicast setup packet for transfer to the group destination nodes, said multicast setup packet containing a multicast identifier field, a virtual circuit field and a destination field identifying the group of destination nodes receiving said multicast setup packet; and
,means for allocating selected switches and interconnecting links of said network as elements of said multicast virtual circuits for receiving said multicast setup packet through generating entries of a forwarding table located within an allocated switch said entries containing routing information pertaining to outgoing ports associated with the group of destination nodes contained within said destination field of said multicast setup packet to open said multicast virtual circuit.
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Specification