Method for providing scalable multicast service in a virtual private LAN service
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- assigning, by a network device, an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast group address to a virtual private LAN service associated with a service provider network associated with a service provider network;
encapsulating, by the network device, a data packet of the virtual private LAN service in an IP packet designating the IP multicast group address and including an Ethernet header designating a multicast Ethernet address associated with the IP multicast group address; and
transmitting, by the network device, the IP packet using an IP multicast routing protocol,wherein the IP multicast group address assigned to the virtual private LAN service is within a range set aside for use with virtual private LAN services, andwherein the range set aside is within a range having an administrative scope local to the service provider network and can be reused in other networks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multicast capability in a virtual private LAN service (VPLS) is provided in a provider IP/MPLS infrastructure without headend replications by encapsulating a customer data packet to use an established multicast protocol, such as IP multicast. In one example, the customer data packet is encapsulated by an IP header having an IP multicast group address and an Ethernet header. In one implementation, a DNS type mechanism is provided to distribute the IP multicast addresses for VPLS use. Such IP multicast group address can be set aside from an administratively scoped address range. An efficient IP routing algorithm running on the provider'"'"'s network provides an efficient distribution tree for routing IP-encapsulated customer packet for the VPLS.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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assigning, by a network device, an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast group address to a virtual private LAN service associated with a service provider network associated with a service provider network; encapsulating, by the network device, a data packet of the virtual private LAN service in an IP packet designating the IP multicast group address and including an Ethernet header designating a multicast Ethernet address associated with the IP multicast group address; and transmitting, by the network device, the IP packet using an IP multicast routing protocol, wherein the IP multicast group address assigned to the virtual private LAN service is within a range set aside for use with virtual private LAN services, and wherein the range set aside is within a range having an administrative scope local to the service provider network and can be reused in other networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device comprising:
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a first network interface associated with a virtual private LAN service adapted to transmit an Internet Protocol (IP) packet encapsulating a data packet, the IP packet designating an IP multicast group address assigned to the virtual private LAN service and including an Ethernet header designating a multicast Ethernet address associated with the IP multicast group address; and a second network interface associated with the virtual private LAN service adapted for receiving an IP packet which (a) encapsulates a data packet, (b) designates the IP multicast group address assigned to the virtual private LAN service and (c) includes an Ethernet header designating the multicast Ethernet address associated with the IP multicast group address, wherein the virtual private LAN service is associated with a service provider network, wherein the IP multicast group address assigned to the virtual private LAN service is within a range set aside for use with virtual private LAN services, and wherein the range set aside is within a range having an administrative scope local to the service provider network and can be reused in other networks. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device comprising:
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a first port; a second port; and a routing engine that (a) (i) encapsulates a data packet of a virtual private LAN service received at the first port in an IP packet designating an IP multicast group address associated with the virtual private LAN service and including an Ethernet header designating a multicast Ethernet address associated with the IP multicast group address and (ii) provides the IP packet to the second port for transmitting; and
(b) recovers a data packet of the virtual private LAN service that was encapsulated in an IP packet received at the second port and designating an IP multicast group address associated with the virtual private LAN service and provides the recovered data packet to the first port for transmitting,wherein the virtual private LAN service is associated with a service provider network, wherein the IP multicast group address associated with the virtual private LAN service is within a range set aside for use with virtual private LAN services, and wherein the range set aside is within a range having an administrative scope local to the service provider network and can be reused in other networks. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device comprising:
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a first port for connecting to a first network; a second port for connecting to a second network; and means for routing that (a)(i) encapsulates a data packet of a virtual private LAN service received at the first port in an IP packet designating an IP multicast group address associated with the virtual private LAN service and including an Ethernet header designating a multicast Ethernet address associated with the IP multicast group address and (ii) provides the IP packet to the second port for transmitting; and
(b) recovers a data packet of the virtual private LAN service encapsulated in an IP packet received at the second port and designating an IP multicast group address associated with the virtual private LAN service and provides the recovered data packet to the first port for transmitting,wherein the virtual private LAN service is associated with a service provider network, wherein the IP multicast group address associated with the virtual private LAN service is within a range set aside for use with virtual private LAN services, and wherein the range set aside is within a range having an administrative scope local to the service provider network and can be reused in other networks. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification