Independent-tree ad hoc multicast routing
First Claim
1. A method of operating a multicasting communications network comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a multicasting communications network formed of a plurality of nodes and links connecting said nodes to facilitate communication among said nodes;
b) calculating a first multicast routing scheme, said multicast routing scheme defining, for each of said nodes, a plurality of paths for facilitating communication with each of said other nodes in said network, said paths each being formed by one or more of said links;
c) calculating one or more alternate multicast routing schemes to be employed if said first multicast routing scheme fails due to failure of one or more of said links or nodes;
b) implementing multicasting communications between said nodes in said network by interconnecting said nodes in accordance with said first multicast routing scheme; and
d) interconnecting said nodes in accordance with one of said alternate multicast routing schemes if said first multicast routing scheme fails;
e) estimating a time at which a probability of said one or more alternate multicast routing schemes failing exceeds a predetermined threshold;
f) employing said estimated time to determine a time at which calculation of one or more additional alternate multicast routing schemes should begin; and
,g) calculating one or more additional alternate multicast routing schemes at said determined time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A routing protocol for a multicasting network, such as an ad hoc network, employs alternate tree or path computation algorithms that continually compute backup trees or paths that can be employed to replace failed trees or paths. The sets of alternate multicast trees or paths are preferably pre-calculated before a first tree or path fails to minimize delay in replacing a failed tree or path. Preferably, the algorithms are designed to compute the alternate multicast trees or paths in such a manner that they are maximally independent of the original set of trees and paths to minimize correlation between the original trees or paths and the replacement trees or paths and to possibly increase the useful time of the calculated trees. This helps insure that the replacement trees or paths will not be likely themselves to fail soon after failure of the original trees or paths.
79 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of operating a multicasting communications network comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a multicasting communications network formed of a plurality of nodes and links connecting said nodes to facilitate communication among said nodes; b) calculating a first multicast routing scheme, said multicast routing scheme defining, for each of said nodes, a plurality of paths for facilitating communication with each of said other nodes in said network, said paths each being formed by one or more of said links; c) calculating one or more alternate multicast routing schemes to be employed if said first multicast routing scheme fails due to failure of one or more of said links or nodes; b) implementing multicasting communications between said nodes in said network by interconnecting said nodes in accordance with said first multicast routing scheme; and d) interconnecting said nodes in accordance with one of said alternate multicast routing schemes if said first multicast routing scheme fails; e) estimating a time at which a probability of said one or more alternate multicast routing schemes failing exceeds a predetermined threshold; f) employing said estimated time to determine a time at which calculation of one or more additional alternate multicast routing schemes should begin; and
,g) calculating one or more additional alternate multicast routing schemes at said determined time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A multicasting communications network comprising:
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a) a plurality of communications nodes; and b) a plurality of links connecting said nodes to facilitate communication among said nodes; wherein, each of said nodes includes; 1) a transceiver for receiving communications from and transmitting communications to other of said nodes in said network 2) a processor for controlling operation of said transceiver, said processor being programmed to calculate a first multicast routing scheme, said multicast routing scheme defining, for each of said nodes, a plurality of paths for facilitating multicast communication with each of said other nodes in said network, said paths each being formed by one or more of said links, and one or more alternate multicast routing schemes to be employed if said first routing scheme fails due to failure of one or more of said links or nodes;
said processor also being programmed to estimate a time at which a probability of said one or more alternate multicast routing schemes failing exceeds a predetermined threshold, employ said estimated time to determine a time at which calculation of one or more additional alternate multicast routing schemes should begin, and calculate one or more additional alternate multicast routing schemes at said determined time; and3) a database for storing said first and one or more alternate multicast routing schemes. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification