Patents by Inventor Robert W. Kebler

Robert W. Kebler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11902148
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, by an egress network device for a network, messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices for the network, wherein each of the messages specifies a multicast source, a multicast group, and an upstream multicast hop weight value for multicast traffic for the multicast source and the multicast group; selecting, by the egress network device and based on the upstream multicast hop weight values specified by the received messages, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group; and sending, by the egress network device, the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Publication number: 20240022444
    Abstract: An example egress network device includes at least one computer processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that cause the at least one computer processor to receive messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices. Each message specifies a multicast source as an anycast address that belongs to two or more sources, a multicast group, and a customer site identifier that uniquely identifies a customer network device via which the anycast address is reachable. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to select, based on the customer site identifiers, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to send the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Vikram Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 11811509
    Abstract: An example egress network device includes at least one computer processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that cause the at least one computer processor to receive messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices. Each message specifies a multicast source as an anycast address that belongs to two or more sources, a multicast group, and a customer site identifier that uniquely identifies a customer network device via which the anycast address is reachable. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to select, based on the customer site identifiers, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to send the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Vikram Nagarajan
  • Publication number: 20230065908
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, by an egress network device for a network, messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices for the network, wherein each of the messages specifies a multicast source, a multicast group, and an upstream multicast hop weight value for multicast traffic for the multicast source and the multicast group; selecting, by the egress network device and based on the upstream multicast hop weight values specified by the received messages, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group; and sending, by the egress network device, the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Patent number: 11516115
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, by an egress network device for a network, messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices for the network, wherein each of the messages specifies a multicast source, a multicast group, and an upstream multicast hop weight value for multicast traffic for the multicast source and the multicast group; selecting, by the egress network device and based on the upstream multicast hop weight values specified by the received messages, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group; and sending, by the egress network device, the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Patent number: 11496329
    Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Nagarajan, Robert W. Kebler, Dinesh Sivaraj, Vinod Kumar N
  • Patent number: 11477113
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, by an egress network device for a network, messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices for the network, wherein each of the messages specifies a multicast source, a multicast group, and an upstream multicast hop weight value for multicast traffic for the multicast source and the multicast group; selecting, by the egress network device and based on the upstream multicast hop weight values specified by the received messages, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group; and sending, by the egress network device, the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Patent number: 11463269
    Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Nagarajan, Robert W. Kebler, Dinesh Sivaraj, Vinod Kumar N
  • Patent number: 11444793
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for enabling a network of network devices (or “nodes”) to provide redundant multicast streams from redundant multicast sources to an egress network node. In some examples, the egress network node (or a controller for the network) computes maximally redundant trees (MRTs) from the egress network node to a virtual proxy node virtually added to the network topology by the egress network node for redundant multicast sources of redundant multicast streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Kebler, Vikram Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 11431614
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, by an egress network device for a network, messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices for the network, wherein each of the messages specifies a multicast source, a multicast group, and an upstream multicast hop weight value for multicast traffic for the multicast source and the multicast group; selecting, by the egress network device and based on the upstream multicast hop weight values specified by the received messages, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group; and sending, by the egress network device, the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Publication number: 20220247585
    Abstract: An example egress network device includes at least one computer processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that cause the at least one computer processor to receive messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices. Each message specifies a multicast source as an anycast address that belongs to two or more sources, a multicast group, and a customer site identifier that uniquely identifies a customer network device via which the anycast address is reachable. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to select, based on the customer site identifiers, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to send the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Vikram Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 11381501
    Abstract: A device may store first information regarding a first pseudowire connection with a first device, wherein the first pseudowire connection provides access to an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN) to communicate with a host device. The device may store second information regarding a second pseudowire connection with a second device, wherein the second pseudowire connection provides access to the EVPN to communicate with the host device. The device may receive a message that includes a configuration identifier and identify the configuration identifier. The device may change a first characteristic of the first pseudowire connection based on the configuration identifier. The device may change a second characteristic of the second pseudowire connection based on the configuration identifier. The device may receive data from the host device based on changing the first characteristic of the first pseudowire connection and changing the second characteristic of the second pseudowire connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Nagarajan, Robert W. Kebler, Kapil Arora, Himanshu Agarwal, Soumyodeep Joarder
  • Patent number: 11349749
    Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating node protection for Broadcast, unknown Unicast, and Multicast (BUM) traffic for a multi-homed node failure. For example, each VTEP (e.g., PE device) may advertise a protected VTEP address that indicates an IP address of a remote PE device that is to be protected in the event of a node failure. In the event a multi-homed PE device fails, the ingress PE device sends a BUM packet including the protected VTEP address for the failed node. When an egress PE device receives the BUM packet, the egress PE device determines whether the BUM packet includes the protected VTEP address and whether the egress PE device is operating as a backup designated forwarder (DF). If the BUM packet includes the protected VTEP address and the egress PE device is a backup DF, the egress PE device forwards the BUM traffic to the ESI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Nagarajan, Kapil Arora, Robert W. Kebler, Princy T. Elizabeth, Ramesh Kandula, Soumyodeep Joarder
  • Patent number: 11323279
    Abstract: An example network device includes memory configured to store packet data and processor circuitry coupled to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that a first host device has moved from a first access network of an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN) associated with the first PE router to a second access network of the EVPN, wherein the first host device is interested in receiving traffic of a first multicast group. The processing circuitry is configured to determine whether any other host device on the first access network of the network device is interested in receiving traffic of the first multicast group. Based on no other host device on the first access network of the network device being interested in receiving multicast traffic of the first multicast group, the processing circuitry is configured to delete state associated with the first multicast group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Vikram Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 11323364
    Abstract: In some examples, a network device may determine whether a first egress network device is segment routing (SR) aware. Based on the first egress network device being SR aware, the network device may initiate establishment of an SR tunnel toward the first egress network device. The network device may forward multicast traffic on the SR tunnel. The network device may also determine whether a second egress network device is SR aware. Based on the second egress network device not being segment routing aware, the network device may initiate establishment of a non-SR tunnel toward the second egress network device. The network device may forward multicast traffic on the non-SR tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Publication number: 20220060407
    Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, by an egress network device for a network, messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices for the network, wherein each of the messages specifies a multicast source, a multicast group, and an upstream multicast hop weight value for multicast traffic for the multicast source and the multicast group; selecting, by the egress network device and based on the upstream multicast hop weight values specified by the received messages, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group; and sending, by the egress network device, the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Patent number: 11233741
    Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems for adaptively determining whether to perform ingress replication or assisted replication of a multicast flow based on classification of the multicast flow. For example, a provider edge (PE) device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive a multicast traffic flow, determine a classification of the multicast traffic flow, and perform, based at least in part on the classification of the multicast traffic flow, one of: ingress replication of the multicast traffic flow or assisted replication of the multicast traffic flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Michal Styszynski, Dinesh Sivaraj, Vikram Nagarajan
  • Publication number: 20210352010
    Abstract: In some examples, a network device may determine whether a first egress network device is segment routing (SR) aware. Based on the first egress network device being SR aware, the network device may initiate establishment of an SR tunnel toward the first egress network device. The network device may forward multicast traffic on the SR tunnel. The network device may also determine whether a second egress network device is SR aware. Based on the second egress network device not being segment routing aware, the network device may initiate establishment of a non-SR tunnel toward the second egress network device. The network device may forward multicast traffic on the non-SR tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar N, Robert W. Kebler, Ashok Patrick Jude Manoharan, Hariharan Boopathy
  • Publication number: 20210297273
    Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Vikram Nagarajan, Robert W. Kebler, Dinesh Sivaraj, Vinod Kumar N
  • Patent number: 11070386
    Abstract: The potential problem of too many unique protocol independent multicast (PIM) joins (corresponding to unique (Source, Group) combinations) in PIM join/prune messages being received by a router may be solved by controlling (e.g., limiting) a number of unique PIM joins to be sent to the router from a downstream device. This may be accomplished, for example, by communicating a limit (or multiple different limits) from a PIM device to one or more downstream PIM neighbors. For example, the limit may be encoded in a PIM Hello message (e.g., as an Option Type-Length-Value (TLV)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Kebler, Rahul Unnikrishnan, Venkata Lakshmana Murthy Varahabhotla