Bit indexed explicit replication for professional media networks

• US 9,571,897 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shepherd, Gregory J., Wijnands, Ijsbrand, Kernen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Brenda H
• Application Number:
  US14/634,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 717 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/349, 370/359, 370/392, 370/396, 370/395.31, 370/395.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64784 Data processing by the network data processing in packet switching systems H04L12/56; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90; provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56

Abstract

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). For example, one method involves receiving a first bit string at a node, encapsulating a packet with the first bit string, and forwarding the packet. The method also involves receiving a second bit string at the node and selecting the second bit string. The method also involves encapsulating a second packet with the second bit string and forwarding the second packet.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a node comprising a memory and one or more processors, a first bit string from a controller, wherein each bit in the first bit string corresponds to a receiver in a first set of receivers;

receiving, by the node, a first packet of a video stream from a source;

encapsulating, by the node, the first packet with the first bit string;

forwarding the node, the first packet to the first set of receivers;

receiving, by the node, a second bit string from the controlled, wherein each bit in the second bit string corresponds to a receiver in a second set of receivers;

detecting, by the node, a switch trigger;

selecting, by the node, the second bit string based at least in part on detecting the switch trigger;

receiving, by the node, a second packet of the video stream from the source;

encapsulating, by the node, the second packet with the second bit string; and

forwarding, by the node, the second packet to the second set of receivers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch trigger corresponds to one of a vertical blanking interval or a horizontal blanking interval associated with the video stream.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the node comprises an ingress router.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch trigger indicates the end of a portion of the video stream.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the switch trigger comprises a bit included in a Real-time Transfer Protocol (RTP) frame.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the video stream is encapsulated, using a Serial Data Interface (SDI) format, into a plurality of packets including the first packet and the second packet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein

selecting the second bit string comprises updating a pointer to point to the second bit string instead of to the first bit string.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

a time interval between detecting the switch trigger and the forwarding the second packet is less than a predetermined value.

9. A system comprising:

a node configured to;

receive a first bit string from a controller, wherein each bit in the first bit string corresponds to a receiver in a first set of receivers;

receive a first packet of a video stream from a source;

encapsulate the first packet with the first bit string;

forward the first packet to the first set of receivers;

receive a second bit string from the controller, wherein each bit in the second bit string corresponds to a receiver in a second set of receivers;

detect a switch trigger;

select the second bit string based at least in part on detecting the switch trigger;

receive a second packet of the video stream from the source;

encapsulate the second packet with the second bit string; and

forward the second packet to the second set of receivers.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the switch trigger corresponds to one of a vertical blanking interval or a horizontal blanking interval associated with the video stream.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the video stream is encapsulated, using a Serial Data Interface SDI format, into a s plurality of packets including the first packet and the second packet.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the switch trigger indicates the end of a portion of video data.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the node comprises an ingress router.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein

a time interval between detecting the switch trigger and the forwarding the second packet is less than a predetermined value.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that are executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first bit string from a controller, wherein each bit in the first bit string corresponds to a receiver in a first set of receivers;

receiving a first packet of a video stream from a source;

encapsulating the first packet with the first bit string;

forwarding the first packet to the first set of receivers;

receiving a second bit string from the controller, wherein each bit in the second bit string corresponds to a receiver in a second set of receivers;

detecting a switch trigger;

selecting the second bit string based at least in part on detecting the switch trigger;

receiving a second packet of the video stream from the source;

encapsulating the second packet with the second bit string; and

forwarding the second packet to the second set of receivers.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the switch trigger corresponds to a location of a vertical blanking interval or a horizontal blanking interval in the video stream.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the switch trigger comprises a bit included in a Real-time Transfer Protocol (RTP) frame of the first packet.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15,

wherein the switch trigger indicates the end of a portion of video data.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein selecting the second bit string comprises modifying a pointer to point to the second bit string instead of to the first bit string.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a time interval between detecting the switch trigger and the forwarding the second packet is less than a predetermined value.