Designated router assignment per multicast group address/range
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- a first router selecting a designated router for a first multicast group, wherein the selecting the designated router for the first multicast group comprisesthe first router, in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of the first multicast group,generating a first value for the first router and a second value for a second router, wherein the first and second values are generated using a hash algorithm, andusing the first and second values to select itself or the second router as the designated router for the first multicast group, whereinthe first and second routers are on a network; and
the first router selecting a designated router for a second multicast group, whereinthe designated router for the first multicast group is distinct from the designated router for the second multicast group, andthe selecting the designated router for the second multicast group comprisesthe first router, in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of the second multicast group,generating a third value for the first router and a fourth value for the second router, wherein the third and fourth values are generated using the hash algorithm, andusing the third and fourth values to select itself or the second router as the designated router for the second multicast group, whereinthe IP address of the first multicast group is distinct from the IP address of the second multicast group.
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Abstract
Each of several routers connected to a LAN elects the same router as the designated router for a multicast group identified by a multicast address. Each of the several routers implements a method for electing the designated router. The method includes in one embodiment, generating several values corresponding to the several routers, respectively. The several values are generated as a function of the several routers'"'"' IP addresses, respectively, and an IP address of a first multicast group. The values, in one embodiment, are then compared to determine which is the largest. Thereafter each router elects as the designated router for the multicast group, the router corresponding to the largest value.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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a first router selecting a designated router for a first multicast group, wherein the selecting the designated router for the first multicast group comprises the first router, in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of the first multicast group, generating a first value for the first router and a second value for a second router, wherein the first and second values are generated using a hash algorithm, and using the first and second values to select itself or the second router as the designated router for the first multicast group, wherein the first and second routers are on a network; and the first router selecting a designated router for a second multicast group, wherein the designated router for the first multicast group is distinct from the designated router for the second multicast group, and the selecting the designated router for the second multicast group comprises the first router, in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of the second multicast group, generating a third value for the first router and a fourth value for the second router, wherein the third and fourth values are generated using the hash algorithm, and using the third and fourth values to select itself or the second router as the designated router for the second multicast group, wherein the IP address of the first multicast group is distinct from the IP address of the second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
a first router, the first router comprising; a first circuit for generating first and second values using a hash algorithm, wherein the first circuit, in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of a first multicast group, generates the first value for the first router, and generates the second value for a second router, wherein the first and second routers are on a network, and the first router is configured to use the first and second values to select itself or the second router as a designated router for the first multicast group; and the first circuit further configured to generate third and fourth values using the hash algorithm, wherein the first circuit, in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of a second multicast group, generates the third value for the first router, and generates the fourth value for the second router, wherein the first router is further configured to use the third and fourth values to select itself or the second router as a designated router for the second multicast group, the designated router for the first multicast group is distinct from the designated router for the second multicast group, and the IP address of the first multicast group is distinct from the IP address of the second multicast group. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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means for generating values, wherein in response to a first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of a first multicast group, a first value is generated for the first router using a hash algorithm, and a second value is generated for a second router using the hash algorithm, and in response to the first router receiving an IGMP membership report that comprises an IP address of a second multicast group, a third value is generated for the first router using the hash algorithm, and a fourth value is generated for the second router using the hash algorithm, wherein the IP address of the first multicast group is distinct from the IP address of the second multicast group; and means for selecting a designated router, wherein the first router or the second router is selected as a designated router for the first multicast group using the first and second values, the first router or the second router is selected as a designated router for the second multicast group using the third and fourth values, the designated router for the first multicast group is distinct from the designated router for the second multicast group, and the first and second routers are on a network. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification