Abstract: Methods for distributing multicast network path information to various network nodes in a network environment are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a downstream node transmitting a first message including a network path indicating a specific desired route that is to be used when delivering multicast traffic from a given multicast source to a given host, as well as an identifier assigned to the network path in order to uniquely identify that network path in the network. The method also includes the downstream node transmitting a second message for announcing that the multicast source is to be reached via the network path announced in the first message. The second message identifies the network path to be used by including the identifier of the path announced in the first message, but not the network path itself.

Abstract: Methods for distributing multicast network path information to various network nodes in a network environment are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a downstream node transmitting a first message including a network path indicating a specific desired route that is to be used when delivering multicast traffic from a given multicast source to a given host, as well as an identifier assigned to the network path in order to uniquely identify that network path in the network. The method also includes the downstream node transmitting a second message for announcing that the multicast source is to be reached via the network path announced in the first message. The second message identifies the network path to be used by including the identifier of the path announced in the first message, but not the network path itself.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a packet from a router located in a communication path between a source and a receiver, the packet having one or more values used to select a group designated router from a list of candidate group designated routers for multicast traffic streams, selecting the router as said group designated router for one or more of the multicast traffic streams, and forwarding traffic for the one or more multicast traffic streams to the receiver. The candidate group designated routers are last hop routers for transmitting the multicast traffic streams to a common link connected to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a packet at an upstream node in communication with a source and in communication with a downstream node through equal cost multiple paths including first and second multi-access networks, the packet transmitted on the first multi-access network and associated with a multicast group, and transmitting from the upstream node a request to the downstream node to join the group on the second multi-access network, if the upstream node is already transmitting data to the group on the second multi-access network, or a bandwidth utilization at the first multi-access network exceeds a specified threshold. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a packet from a router located in a communication path between a source and a receiver, the packet having one or more values used to select a group designated router from a list of candidate group designated routers for multicast traffic streams, selecting the router as said group designated router for one or more of the multicast traffic streams, and forwarding traffic for the one or more multicast traffic streams to the receiver. The candidate group designated routers are last hop routers for transmitting the multicast traffic streams to a common link connected to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a packet from a router located in a communication path between a source and a receiver, the load balancing packet having one or more values used to select a group designated router from a list of candidate group designated routers for multicast traffic streams, selecting the router as said group designated router for one or more of the multicast traffic streams, and forwarding traffic for the one or more multicast traffic streams to the receiver. The candidate group designated routers are last hop routers for transmitting the multicast traffic streams to a common link connected to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a relay device of a network, which is reachable by a source device via only a non-multicast network, receives a non-multicast that encapsulates a multicast message. The relay device is connected to a sub-network of one or more devices. The relay device decapsulates the unicast message to determine the multicast message, re-encapsulates the multicast message as a relay-sourced multicast message, and multicasts the relay-sourced multicast message to the one or more devices within the sub-network.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes evaluating multiple paths in a network in order to execute a reverse path forwarding decision for multicast traffic associated with a source. The method may also include selecting a second network path based on a first network path previously been designated as a route for the multicast traffic associated with the source. The first network path and a second network path differ by at least one network element. The method further includes receiving at least one of a first data stream and a second data stream, wherein the first data stream is associated with the first network path and the second data stream is associated with the second network path.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a relay device of a network, which is reachable by a source device via only a non-multicast network, receives a non-multicast that encapsulates a multicast message. The relay device is connected to a sub-network of one or more devices. The relay device decapsulates the unicast message to determine the multicast message, re-encapsulates the multicast message as a relay-sourced multicast message, and multicasts the relay-sourced multicast message to the one or more devices within the sub-network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a packet from a router located in a communication path between a source and a receiver, the load balancing packet having one or more values used to select a group designated router from a list of candidate group designated routers for multicast traffic streams, selecting the router as said group designated router for one or more of the multicast traffic streams, and forwarding traffic for the one or more multicast traffic streams to the receiver. The candidate group designated routers are last hop routers for transmitting the multicast traffic streams to a common link connected to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a packet at an upstream node in communication with a source and in communication with a downstream node through equal cost multiple paths including first and second multi-access networks, the packet transmitted on the first multi-access network and associated with a multicast group, and transmitting from the upstream node a request to the downstream node to join the group on the second multi-access network, if the upstream node is already transmitting data to the group on the second multi-access network, or a bandwidth utilization at the first multi-access network exceeds a specified threshold. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a join message from a receiver at a receiver edge router, the join message identifying a source and a group, and creating at least two forwarding trees for transmitting multicast data streams comprising duplicate data to the receiver edge router. The forwarding trees include a root at a source edge router in communication with the source, and different network paths. The method further includes receiving a packet from one of the forwarding trees and processing the received packet to determine if the packet is a duplicate of another packet received at the receiver edge router. If the packet is a duplicate packet, it is discarded. If the packet is not a duplicate, it is forwarded to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes evaluating multiple paths in a network in order to execute a reverse path forwarding decision for multicast traffic associated with a source. The method may also include selecting a second network path based on a first network path previously been designated as a route for the multicast traffic associated with the source. The first network path and a second network path differ by at least one network element. The method further includes receiving at least one of a first data stream and a second data stream, wherein the first data stream is associated with the first network path and the second data stream is associated with the second network path.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and machine-readable medium for transmitting a packet through a network to convey network topology is provided. The method includes the step of generating at least one link state protocol data unit (LSP) with a first identifier until reaching a maximum sequence number in a sequence assigned to a network device, represented by the first identifier. The method further includes the step of modifying the first identifier to produce a second identifier. The method also includes the step of generating at least one LSP with the second identifier, and with a sequence number that is less than or equal to the maximum sequence number in the sequence. The system for transmitting a packet through a network, to convey network topology, comprises the means for performing the above-mentioned method steps.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a join message from a receiver at a receiver edge router, the join message identifying a source and a group, and creating at least two forwarding trees for transmitting multicast data streams comprising duplicate data to the receiver edge router. The forwarding trees include a root at a source edge router in communication with the source, and different network paths. The method further includes receiving a packet from one of the forwarding trees and processing the received packet to determine if the packet is a duplicate of another packet received at the receiver edge router. If the packet is a duplicate packet, it is discarded. If the packet is not a duplicate, it is forwarded to the receiver. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for transmitting link state packet (LSP) through a network are provided. The method includes dividing the LSP into LSP fragments having respective fragment numbers, transmitting the LSP fragments repetitively through the network, identifying at least one LSP fragment that is updated while the LSP fragments are being transmitted, and retransmitting the identified LSP fragments. The transmitted updated LSP is used for processing the Shortest Path First algorithm to identify accurately the shortest path that can be used to establish communication in the network.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and machine-readable medium for transmitting a packet through a network to convey network topology is provided. The method includes the step of generating at least one link state protocol data unit (LSP) with a first identifier until reaching a maximum sequence number in a sequence assigned to a network device, represented by the first identifier. The method further includes the step of modifying the first identifier to produce a second identifier. The method also includes the step of generating at least one LSP with the second identifier, and with a sequence number that is less than or equal to the maximum sequence number in the sequence. The system for transmitting a packet through a network, to convey network topology, comprises the means for performing the above-mentioned method steps.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for transmitting link state packet (LSP) through a network are provided. The method includes dividing the LSP into LSP fragments having respective fragment numbers, transmitting the LSP fragments repetitively through the network, identifying at least one LSP fragment that is updated while the LSP fragments are being transmitted, and retransmitting the identified LSP fragments. The transmitted updated LSP is used for processing the Shortest Path First algorithm to identify accurately the shortest path that can be used to establish communication in the network.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for flooding link state packets or packet data units (LSP's) from a first node to one other LSP receiving node, where the LSP's are flooded in an order that is related to relative costs of various paths emanating from the first node. That is, the first node sends its own LSP first since the first node has no cost relative to itself. The first node then sends other LSP's that are associated with a plurality of other LSP sending nodes that have previously flooded their LSP's to the first node, and these other LSP's are sent by the first node to the other LSP receiving node in an order related to the relative costs associated with the paths from the first node to each of the other LSP sending nodes which had previously sent the other LSP's to the first node.