Method and apparatus for detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure
US6515967B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/28
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for detecting faults in data packet routing devices in a computer network capable of routing messages using a multicast protocol is described. Faults in devices, such as routers and switches, are detected in near real-time when using a multicast routing infrastructure by configuring a device to be a sender or source of test data packets and one or more other devices to receive test data packets. The test packet sender transmits test data packets to a test group of test packet receivers where the test group has a group identifier. The test receivers prepare data or fault reports describing errors regarding missing or duplicated data packets. These fault reports are prepared soon after the errors are detected and sent back to a multicast routing manager for isolating the device causing the fault. The messages sent to the test devices contain instructions regarding time intervals during which fault reports can be sent to the multicast routing manager from the multiple test receivers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.