Scalable IP-services enabled multicast forwarding with efficient resource utilization
First Claim
1. A method of managing multicast Internet Protocol (IP) sessions, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a network device, active multicast IP sessions; and
maintaining, by the network device, a data structure within a memory of the network device containing therein information regarding the active multicast IP sessions;
wherein the data structure includes;
a plurality of pairs of a source field and a group field ({S, G} pairs), in which each pair of the plurality of {S, G} pairs defines a multicast IP session of the active multicast IP sessions, wherein the source field defines a source of a multicast transmission of the multicast IP session and the group field defines a group corresponding to the multicast IP session;
a first value associated with each of the plurality of {S, G} pairs that is indicative of a dynamically allocated set of outbound interface (OIF) blocks, wherein a number OIF blocks in the dynamically allocated set of OIF blocks is dependent upon a number of OIFs of the network device that are participating in the IP multicast session and the number of OIF blocks in the dynamically allocated set of OIF blocks defines a number of times packets of the IP multicast session are to be replicated;
a set of slots for each OIF block of the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks, each slot of the set of slots having stored therein a second value indicative of a transmit control block (TCB) data structure which services one or more users participating in the IP multicast session and which has stored therein control information to process or route packets of the IP multicast session, including information regarding an OIF of the network device through which the packets are to be transmitted;
a third value associated with each OIF block of the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks that links together the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks and facilitates dynamic addition or removal of OIF blocks to or from the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks responsive to users joining or leaving the IP multicast session.
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Abstract
Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, active multicast IP sessions are identified by a network device. A data structure is maintained by the network device and contains therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first value for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first value is indicative of a chain of one or more blocks of second values. Each second value corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second value is indicative of a TCB that identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted.
182 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of managing multicast Internet Protocol (IP) sessions, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a network device, active multicast IP sessions; and maintaining, by the network device, a data structure within a memory of the network device containing therein information regarding the active multicast IP sessions; wherein the data structure includes; a plurality of pairs of a source field and a group field ({S, G} pairs), in which each pair of the plurality of {S, G} pairs defines a multicast IP session of the active multicast IP sessions, wherein the source field defines a source of a multicast transmission of the multicast IP session and the group field defines a group corresponding to the multicast IP session; a first value associated with each of the plurality of {S, G} pairs that is indicative of a dynamically allocated set of outbound interface (OIF) blocks, wherein a number OIF blocks in the dynamically allocated set of OIF blocks is dependent upon a number of OIFs of the network device that are participating in the IP multicast session and the number of OIF blocks in the dynamically allocated set of OIF blocks defines a number of times packets of the IP multicast session are to be replicated; a set of slots for each OIF block of the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks, each slot of the set of slots having stored therein a second value indicative of a transmit control block (TCB) data structure which services one or more users participating in the IP multicast session and which has stored therein control information to process or route packets of the IP multicast session, including information regarding an OIF of the network device through which the packets are to be transmitted; a third value associated with each OIF block of the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks that links together the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks and facilitates dynamic addition or removal of OIF blocks to or from the set of dynamically allocated OIF blocks responsive to users joining or leaving the IP multicast session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of managing multicast Internet Protocol (IP) sessions, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a network device, active multicast IP sessions; and maintaining, by the network device, a data structure within a memory of the network device containing therein information regarding the active multicast IP sessions, including; a first value for each of the active multicast IP sessions; at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values, in which each first value is indicative of one chain of one or more blocks of second values, and in which each second value of the at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) of the network device participating in the active multicast IP session defined by the first value and identifies a number of times packets associated with the active multicast IP session are to be replicated; and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs) having stored therein control information to process or route packets, in which each second value of the at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values is indicative of a TCB of the one or more TCBs, in which each TCB of the one or more TCBs identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification