Forming multicast distribution structures using exchanged multicast optimization data
First Claim
1. A method of forming a multicast distribution structure within a network comprising:
- receiving with a device a respective message from two or more different upstream devices located between the device and a source for a multicast group,wherein each of the messages includes respective multicast optimization data that at least indicates whether the respective upstream device already receives multicast traffic for the multicast group;
ranking at least two of the two or more different upstream devices based on one or more criteria applied to the multicast optimization data;
selecting one of the two or more different upstream devices to which to send a join request for the multicast group based on the ranking; and
sending the join request for the multicast group from the device to the selected upstream device to join the multicast group in response to the received messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network devices in a multicast network exchange multicast optimization data to improve efficiency of multicasting in the network. A protocol, e.g., a routing protocol or a multicast protocol, may be extended to allow the network devices to exchange the multicast optimization data. Alternatively, a separate protocol may be established for exchanging MOD. A network device may receive a message from an upstream device located between the device and a source for a multicast group, wherein the message includes multicast optimization data that specifies at least one criterion for selecting an upstream device. The device may use the data to intelligently select an optimal upstream device for receiving multicast using any of a variety of criteria to rank the upstream routers, such as minimization of multicast traffic duplication, load balancing current bandwidth levels, and avoiding paths experiencing communication delays.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of forming a multicast distribution structure within a network comprising:
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receiving with a device a respective message from two or more different upstream devices located between the device and a source for a multicast group, wherein each of the messages includes respective multicast optimization data that at least indicates whether the respective upstream device already receives multicast traffic for the multicast group; ranking at least two of the two or more different upstream devices based on one or more criteria applied to the multicast optimization data; selecting one of the two or more different upstream devices to which to send a join request for the multicast group based on the ranking; and sending the join request for the multicast group from the device to the selected upstream device to join the multicast group in response to the received messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network device comprising:
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an interface to receive a respective message from at least two different upstream devices located between the network device and a source for a multicast group, wherein each of the messages contains respective multicast optimization data (MOD) that at least indicates whether the respective upstream device already receives multicast traffic for the multicast group; and a control unit to rank at least two of the two or more different upstream devices based on one or more criteria applied to the multicast optimization data, and to select one of the different upstream devices to which to send an appropriate multicast action request for the multicast group based on the ranking and generate the appropriate multicast action request with respect to a multicast distribution structure within a network based on the ranking, wherein the interface outputs the multicast action request to the selected upstream device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a first network device to generate a first message containing first multicast optimization data (MOD) that specifies at least one criterion for selecting an upstream device to which to send an appropriate multicast action request for a multicast group, and communicate the first message to a second network device via a protocol; and the second network device to receive the first message, generate a second message containing second MOD that at least indicates whether the respective upstream device already receives multicast traffic for the multicast group, and communicate the second message to the first network device via the protocol, wherein the first network device receives the second message, ranks at least two of the two or more different upstream devices based on one or more criteria applied to the multicast optimization data; selects one of a plurality of potential upstream devices based on the first and second MOD, and issues the appropriate multicast action request for the multicast group based on the ranking. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:
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receive a respective message from at least two different upstream devices for a multicast group, wherein each of the messages includes respective multicast optimization data pertaining to a plurality of upstream devices for the multicast group, and wherein the multicast optimization data at least indicates whether the respective upstream device already receives multicast traffic for the multicast group; rank at least two of the two or more different upstream devices based on one or more criteria applied to the multicast optimization data; select one of the different upstream devices from which to receive multicast content for the multicast group based on the ranking; and issue the appropriate multicast action request for the multicast group to the selected upstream device based on the ranking. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method comprising:
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prior to joining a multicast group, determining, with a device, a plurality upstream devices located between the device and a source for the multicast group; sending, with the device, a respective message to at least two different upstream devices of the plurality of upstream devices, wherein each of the multicast optimization messages specifies a first set of multicast optimization data that includes information about the plurality of upstream devices; receiving with the device a respective reply message from the at least two different upstream devices, wherein each of the reply messages includes a respective second set of multicast optimization data that at least indicates whether the respective upstream device already receives multicast traffic for the multicast group; ranking at least two of the two or more different upstream devices based on one or more criteria applied to the multicast optimization data; selecting one of the different upstream devices to which to send a join request for the multicast group based on the ranking; sending the join request for the multicast group from the device to the selected upstream device to join the multicast group in response to the received response messages; and receiving, with the device, multicast packets for the multicast group from the selected upstream device.
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Specification