Multicast operations using prioritized state information
First Claim
1. A network router implemented method comprising:
- associating a first multicast state entry in a multicast routing table on the network router with a first class, whereinthe first multicast state entry identifies a first multicast state of a first multicast group, andthe first class identifies a first priority;
associating a second multicast state entry in the multicast routing table with a second class, whereinthe second multicast state entry identifies a second multicast state of a second multicast group, andthe second class identifies a second priority; and
selecting one of the first and second multicast state entries, whereinsaid selecting is performed in response to a determination that an upstream router that is part of a first multicast distribution tree for the first multicast group and part of a second multicast distribution tree for the second multicast group is unavailable,said selecting is determined according to highest priority provided by the first and second classes, andsaid selecting is performed by a processor in the network router.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A classification mechanism to allow selected classes of multicast entries to be acted upon in a chosen order of priority during multicast distribution tree convergence is provided. Such prioritization allows for the designation of customers, networks or multicast groups to receive faster convergence of multicast distribution trees to modified multicast distribution trees in response to unavailability of an upstream router, and in performing other multicast-related tasks (e.g., PIM joins and prunes). One aspect of the present invention provides for multicast entries (also called multicast states) that are at a same priority level to be acted upon in a fair manner, thereby avoiding having certain multicast entries and their associated users from being acted upon consistently last.
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A network router implemented method comprising:
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associating a first multicast state entry in a multicast routing table on the network router with a first class, wherein the first multicast state entry identifies a first multicast state of a first multicast group, and the first class identifies a first priority; associating a second multicast state entry in the multicast routing table with a second class, wherein the second multicast state entry identifies a second multicast state of a second multicast group, and the second class identifies a second priority; and selecting one of the first and second multicast state entries, wherein said selecting is performed in response to a determination that an upstream router that is part of a first multicast distribution tree for the first multicast group and part of a second multicast distribution tree for the second multicast group is unavailable, said selecting is determined according to highest priority provided by the first and second classes, and said selecting is performed by a processor in the network router. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A router element comprising:
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a plurality of network line cards; and a processor coupled to the network line cards wherein the processor is configured to associate a first multicast state entry in a multicast routing table on the router element with a first class, wherein the first multicast state entry identifies a first multicast state of a first multicast group, and the first class identifies a first priority, associate a second multicast state entry in the multicast routing table with a second class, wherein the second multicast state entry identifies a second multicast state of a second multicast group, and the second class identifies a second priority, and select one of the first and second multicast state entries, wherein said selection is determined according to highest priority provided by the first and second classes, and said selection is performed in response to a determination that an upstream router that is part of a first multicast distribution tree for the first multicast group and part of a second multicast distribution tree for the second multicast group is unavailable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of network line cards; means for associating a first multicast state entry in a multicast routing table with a first class, wherein the first multicast state entry identifies a first multicast state of a first multicast group, and the first class identifies a first priority; means for associating a second multicast state entry in the multicast routing table with a second class, wherein the second multicast state entry identifies a second multicast state of a second multicast group, and the second class identifies a second priority; and means for selecting one of the first and second multicast state entries, wherein said selecting is determined according to highest priority provided by the first and second classes, and said selecting is performed in response to a determination that an upstream router that is part of a first multicast distribution tree for the first multicast group and part of a second multicast distribution tree for the second multicast group is unavailable.
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Specification