Methods and apparatus for managing multicast traffic
First Claim
1. A multicast router having one or more downstream network interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast packets having as a destination IP address a multicast group address and hosts that request multicast data from the sources, the multicast router configured to communicate with the hosts via a communications protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol and storing within a storage medium executable instructions that when executed in the multicast router read information contained in one or more multicast data requests made by the hosts that requests multicast data from the sources and generates from the information for each combination of downstream network interface, multicast group address and host that requests the multicast data an INCLUDE source record or an EXCLUDE source record, the INCLUDE source record or EXCLUDE source record generated to be devoid of source timers and to comprise identifying information of the network interface through which the multicast router has received the multicast data request, the multicast group address from which the multicast data has been requested, identity data of the host from which the multicast data request has been received, and source address information of the source from which the multicast data has been requested.
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Abstract
A device, system and method for controlling the flow of multicast data packets from sources sending data to hosts requesting the data. In one implementation, a router is situated in a data network between sources that send multicast data packets directed to a multicast group and hosts requesting to receive the multicast data packets. The router has one or more network interfaces in the direction of the hosts and stores for each network interface, each multicast group address and each host at least one data record arising from one or more data requests made by the hosts which includes multicast group and source information. The router stores executable instructions to receive messages originating from a host, update the status of the data sources for that host and implement the actions according to one or a combination of Tables 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 disclosed herein.
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Citations
34 Claims
- 1. A multicast router having one or more downstream network interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast packets having as a destination IP address a multicast group address and hosts that request multicast data from the sources, the multicast router configured to communicate with the hosts via a communications protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol and storing within a storage medium executable instructions that when executed in the multicast router read information contained in one or more multicast data requests made by the hosts that requests multicast data from the sources and generates from the information for each combination of downstream network interface, multicast group address and host that requests the multicast data an INCLUDE source record or an EXCLUDE source record, the INCLUDE source record or EXCLUDE source record generated to be devoid of source timers and to comprise identifying information of the network interface through which the multicast router has received the multicast data request, the multicast group address from which the multicast data has been requested, identity data of the host from which the multicast data request has been received, and source address information of the source from which the multicast data has been requested.
- 10. A multicast router having one or more downstream network interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast packets having as a destination IP address a multicast group address and hosts that request multicast data from the sources, the multicast router configured to communicate with the hosts via a communications protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol and storing in a storage medium executable instructions that when executed in the multicast router read information contained in one or more multicast data requests made by the hosts that requests multicast data from the sources and generates for each combination of downstream network interface, multicast group address and host that requests the multicast data an INCLUDE source record or an EXCLUDE source record comprising identifying information of the network interface through which the multicast router has received the multicast data request, the multicast group address from which the multicast data has been requested, identity data of the host from which the multicast data request has been received, and source address information of the source from which the multicast data has been requested, wherein when an INCLUDE source record is generated the INCLUDE source record is generated to be devoid of source timers and wherein when an EXCLUDE source record is generated the EXCLUDE source record is generated to be devoid of a requested list.
- 19. A method implemented by executable instructions stored in one or more storage mediums of a multicast router having one or more downstream network interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast packets having as a destination IP address a multicast group address and hosts that request multicast data from the sources, the multicast router configured to communicate with the hosts via a communications protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol, the method comprising reading information contained in one or more multicast data requests made by the hosts that requests multicast data from the sources and generating from the information for each combination of downstream network interface, multicast group address and host that requests the multicast data an INCLUDE source record or an EXCLUDE source record, the INCLUDE source record or EXCLUDE source record generated to be devoid of source timers and to comprise identifying information of the network interface through which the multicast router has received the multicast data request, the multicast group address from which the multicast data has been requested, identity data of the host from which the multicast data request has been received, and source address information of the source from which the multicast data has been requested.
- 27. A method implemented by executable instructions stored in one or more storage mediums of a multicast router having one or more downstream network interfaces and situated in a data network system between sources that send multicast packets having as a destination IP address a multicast group address and hosts that request multicast data from the sources, the multicast router configured to communicate with the hosts via a communications protocol based on the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or the MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) protocol, the method comprising reading information contained in one or more multicast data requests made by the hosts that requests multicast data from the sources and generating from the information for each combination of downstream network interface, multicast group address and host that requests the multicast data an INCLUDE source record or an EXCLUDE source record comprising identifying information of the network interface through which the multicast router has received the multicast data request, the multicast group address from which the multicast data has been requested, identity data of the host from which the multicast data request has been received, and source address information of the source from which the multicast data has been requested, wherein upon an INCLUDE source record being generated the INCLUDE source record is generated without source timers and wherein upon an EXCLUDE source record being generated the EXCLUDE source record is generated without a requested list.
Specification