Method and apparatus for exchanging routing information and establishing connectivity across multiple network areas
US8270319B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/04
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method ensures that multicast packets follow the same loop-free path followed by unicast packets in a packet communication network. The communication network includes at least one first area interconnected through at least one area border node (“ABN”) to a second area. Each ABN has a first level port connected to each first area and a second level port connected to the second area. Each multicast packet forwarded includes a header having a root-id identifying a root of a multicast tree. A data packet is received at an ABN. Responsive to receiving a multicast packet at a second level port of an area border node, the root-id of the multicast packet is examined and if the multicast packet is to be forwarded over at least one of the first level ports, a different root-id is substituted into the packet before the packet is forwarded over the first level port.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.