Method and apparatus for enabling multicast over split multilink trunking
US7719958B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 18, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/28
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Multicast traffic may be routed using DVMRP or PIM over a Split MultiLink Trunk (SMLT). Network elements on the split side of the SMLT are interconnected by an Inter-Switch Trunk (IST) to enable them to exchange control messages associated with the multicast. When a control message is received on the IST, the network element will determine if the multicast control message is associated with a normal multicast or is associated with multicast over an SMLT link. Control messages related to SMLT links will be processed as if they were received over the SMLT link rather than the IST link. To prevent traffic from being forwarded by multiple network elements over the SMLT link, data traffic from an IST link may not be transmitted over an SMLT link. Flags are used to indicate whether a link is a SMLT link or regular link. Fast recovery may occur by causing participants to transmit triggered join messages upon recovery from a failure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.