Method and apparatus for controlling fanout of a multicast tree
First Claim
1. A method of controlling fanout at an ingress node of a dynamic multicast tree for a multicast session in a differentiated services (DS) network, comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving a graft request message from an egress node that has not been joined to the multicast tree;
b) determining whether a number of egress points specified by a service level specification (SLS) associated with the multicast session permits the egress node to be grafted;
c) if the graft is permitted, sending a graft permission response message to the egress node; and
if graft is not permitted a graft-redirect message is sent from the egress node to a downstream requesting node to permit the downstream requesting node to attempt to graft to an existing branch of the multicast tree.
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Abstract
A method as apparatus for controlling the number of egress points at an ingress node in a multicast tree in a differentiated services network is described. A resource management entity is provided in each edge node in the entity. The resource management entity in the ingress node stores data from a service level specification that specifies the bandwidth, type of service and a limit on the number of egress points that can be grafted to the ingress node. The grafting of egress points to the node is controlled by the limit. If a new egress point cannot be grafted to the ingress node, the downstream node requesting the graft is preferably provided with graft redirect options to permit the downstream node to graft to an existing branch of the multicast tree. The advantage is automated, dynamic control of the multicast tree so that service is delivered in accordance with a service level agreement that governs service delivery for the dynamic multicast tree.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of controlling fanout at an ingress node of a dynamic multicast tree for a multicast session in a differentiated services (DS) network, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a graft request message from an egress node that has not been joined to the multicast tree;
b) determining whether a number of egress points specified by a service level specification (SLS) associated with the multicast session permits the egress node to be grafted;
c) if the graft is permitted, sending a graft permission response message to the egress node; and
if graft is not permitted a graft-redirect message is sent from the egress node to a downstream requesting node to permit the downstream requesting node to attempt to graft to an existing branch of the multicast tree.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for controlling fanout at an ingress node of a dynamic multicast tree for a multicast session in a differentiated services network, comprising;
a resource management entity resident in an ingress node of the dynamic multicast tree, the resource management entity is programed to receive a service level specification (SLS) that specifies a level of service to be provided for the multicast session, and to store in a memory at least one variable defining a maximum number of egress points that may be grafted to the ingress node as specified by the SLS, and further adapted to accept graft request messages from egress nodes requesting to be grafted to the multicast tree, and to determine whether a graft requested in a graft request message is to be permitted given a value of the at least one variable and a number of pre-existing egress points at the ingress node, and the resource management entity in each egress node is further programmed to formulate a graft-redirect message that is sent to a downstream requesting node if the egress node cannot be grafted to the ingress node. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for controlling fanout at an ingress node of a dynamic multicast tree for a multicast session in a differentiated services network, comprising:
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a plurality of edge nodes in the differentiated services network a selected one of the edge nodes being the ingress node, each of the edge nodes including a respective resource management entity programed to formulate, send and receive signaling messages related to the management of resources required for the multicast tree; and
the resource management entities of the edge nodes being further adapted to receive a service level specification (SLS) that specifies a level of service to be provided for the multicast session, and to store in a memory at least one variable respecting a maximum number of egress points that may be grafted to the ingress node for the multicast tree; and
if the ingress node cannot accept a graft request from another edge node in the differentiated services network, the resource management entity of the other edge node is programmed to send a graft-redirect message to a downstream requesting node to provide the downstream requesting node with an address of at least one egress node already grafted to the multicast tree.- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A resource management entity for an edge node in a differentiated services network adapted to support dynamic multicast groups, comprising:
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means for accepting a service level specification (SLS) that specifies a level of service for a multicast session and at least one variable for defining a maximum number of egress points that may be grafted to the edge router when the edge node serves as an ingress node of a multicast tree for a dynamic multicast session;
means for storing the at least one variable in a memory;
means for receiving a graft request message from another node in the differentiated services network, the graft request message requesting permission to graft as a new egress point to the ingress node;
means for determining whether the graft can be using the at least one variable for defining a maximum number of egress points;
means for informing the other node respecting whether the graft can be accepted; and
means for sending a graft-redirect message to a downstream requesting node when it is determined that the graft cannot be accepted, the graft-redirect message containing an address of at least one node already grafted to the multicast tree. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification