Bidirectional multicast protocol with upstream and downstream join messages
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G, whereinmulticast routing for multicast group G is performed using a bidirectional multicast routing protocol,the multicast packet is received via an interface, andthe interface is not a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface leading towards a rendezvous point;
inhibiting the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface,wherein information associated with multicast group G indicates that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, andthe inhibiting is performed in response to the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G; and
generating (*, G) state information for the multicast group G, in response to receiving an indication that a receiver is joining the multicast group, whereinthe indication is received via the interface, andthe (*, G) state information includes, subsequent to the generating, the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for implementing a bidirectional multicast protocol with two types of join messages are disclosed. The two types of join messages, upstream joins and downstream joins, are used to control the Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface is added to the outgoing interface list for a particular multicast group, which in turn controls when multicast packets will be forwarded to the rendezvous point. One method involves receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G. The method inhibits the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, unless the outgoing interface list corresponding to the multicast group G already identifies the RPF interface. The RPF interface can be added to the outgoing interface list in response to reception of a downstream join message via the RPF interface, as well as in response to monitoring, via the RPF interface, an upstream join message on a shared network segment.
40 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G, wherein multicast routing for multicast group G is performed using a bidirectional multicast routing protocol, the multicast packet is received via an interface, and the interface is not a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface leading towards a rendezvous point; inhibiting the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, wherein information associated with multicast group G indicates that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, and the inhibiting is performed in response to the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G; and generating (*, G) state information for the multicast group G, in response to receiving an indication that a receiver is joining the multicast group, wherein the indication is received via the interface, and the (*, G) state information includes, subsequent to the generating, the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A node comprising:
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an interface, wherein the interface is configured to receive a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G; a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface coupled to send packets towards a rendezvous point; and a bidirectional multicast routing module coupled to the interface and the RPF interface, wherein information associated with multicast group G indicates that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, the bidirectional multicast routing module is configured to inhibit the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface in response to the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, and the bidirectional multicast routing module is further configured to generate (*, G) state information for a multicast group G, in response to reception of an indication that a receiver is joining the multicast group, wherein the indication is received via the interface, and the (*, G) state information includes, subsequent to generation of the (*, G) state, the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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means for receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G, wherein multicast routing for multicast group G is performed using a bidirectional multicast routing protocol, the multicast packet is received via an interface, and the interface is not a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface leading towards a rendezvous point; means for inhibiting the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, wherein information associated with multicast group G indicates that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, and the inhibiting is performed in response to the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G; and means for generating (*, G) state information for the multicast group G, in response to receiving an indication that a receiver is joining the multicast group, wherein the indication is received via the interface, and the (*, G) state information includes, subsequent to the generating, the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G, wherein multicast routing for multicast group G is performed using a bidirectional multicast routing protocol, the multicast packet is received via an interface, and the interface is not a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface leading towards a rendezvous point; and inhibiting the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, wherein information associated with multicast group G indicates that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, and the inhibiting is performed in response to the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G.
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18. A node comprising:
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an interface, wherein the interface is configured to receive a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G; a Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface coupled to send packets towards a rendezvous point; and a bidirectional multicast routing module coupled to the interface and the RPF interface, wherein information associated with multicast group G indicates that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G, and the bidirectional multicast routing module is configured to inhibit the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface in response to the information associated with multicast group G indicating that the RPF interface is not an outgoing interface for multicast group G.
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Specification