Multicast traffic steering using tree identity in bit indexed explicit replication (BIER)
US10447496B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2017 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2212/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and network devices are disclosed for multicast traffic steering in a communications network. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a first tree connecting a source node for a multicast flow through a communications network to each of multiple destination nodes for the multicast flow. The communications network is configured to forward a multicast message based on bit values in a message bit array carried by the message, and the first tree comprises a first set of unicast paths from the source node to the destination nodes. The method further includes allocating a first tree identifier to the first tree and communicating the first tree identifier and associated forwarding information to each of multiple forwarding nodes within the communications network. An embodiment of a network device includes a processor operably coupled to one or more network interfaces and adapted to perform steps of the method.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.