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 mechanism is provided by which a transport tree identifier can be generated using one or more identifiers for a multicast datastream. The transport tree identifier can then be used in the process of building a transport tree across a transport network. A transport network egress router can receive a request to join a multicast datastream from a downstream node outside of the transport network. The information contained in the join message that identifies the desired multicast datastream can be encoded in the transport tree identifier. The transport tree identifier can be related to one or more of a multicast group destination address, a multicast datastream source address, and a broadcast domain identifier.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for constructing a repair path for multicast data around a non-available component in a data communications network having as components nodes and links therebetween. The method comprises the step performed at a repairing node, of receiving from a notifying node in a network, a notification identifying the notifying node and components through which the notifying node can be reached. The method further comprises the steps of deriving, from the notification, a network repair address for use in the event of non-availability of a component identified in the notification; and constructing a repair path for multicast data for the repair address.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling admission of an end user to a multicast channel over a network implementing a source filtering protocol. Incoming packet traffic received by an edge router is snooped and, when a request to join a multicast channel is received, the traffic is analyzed. Any service policy associated with the traffic class is found and applied to packet traffic from the requesting user. The actions include accepting membership in a group associated with a multicast channel and pushing the packets to the end user. If the action is to deny membership, then the multicast packets are prevented from reaching the end user. In addition information is logged and may be used for billing purposes or for accumulating marketing or other such information. Also, the actions may be to limit the number of routing states, by denying admittance to a groups once a limit number of requests to join, or other such parameter, is reached. Such limiting will substantially prevent DOS attacks on a multicast router.

Abstract: A method of signaling in a computer network uses interception by a network device of a message transmitted by a client computer to a server. The message contains a Universal Resource Locator (URL), the URL having a reserved port designation. The network device parses the URL and intercepts the message in response to finding the reserved port designation in the URL. The network device executes a command, where the command is carried in a field of the intercepted message. The client computer receives the URL having the reserved port designation in a HTML file transmitted to the client computer by the server. The message containing the URL is transmitted by the client computer in response to a user requesting a resource displayed in a web page displayed by the client computer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing request compatibility in a multicast system are disclosed. In one aspect, a layer 2 switch is configured to receive traffic requests from a group of receivers, determine whether the traffic requests contain incompatible request types. If incompatible request types exist, then the switch may separate the traffic requests into groups based on type, and send the requests of different types to a router from distinct addresses.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, method and system for detecting a failure of a primary ad-splicer, conveying a failure information for the failed primary ad-splicer to a redundant ad-splicer, dynamically forwarding one or more pre-spliced packets intended for the failed primary ad-splicer to the redundant ad-splicer, receiving one or more post-spliced packets from the redundant ad-splicer, and transmitting the post-spliced packets towards one or more target receivers are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments may comprise a cable network that shifts control plane functionality for multicast sessions to a cable modem termination system allowing multicast without a cable modem snooping messages from a coupled device. Another embodiment may comprise a network including a device to generate a request to join a multicast session over a cable network, a cable modem termination system in communication with the device, the cable modem termination system to receive the request from the device and to generate a flow identifier to associate with the multicast session, and a cable modem in communication with the cable modem termination system and the device, the cable modem to receive the flow identifier from the cable modem termination system and forward the multicast session to the device from the cable modem termination system based on the flow identifier.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device having a plurality of network interfaces maintains a database tracking multicast memberships associated with the network interfaces. The network device then uses the database for load balancing received multicast traffic over the network interfaces.

Abstract: A first message, received from a first device, identifies a multicast distribution tree and includes first information associated with a route leading to a root of the multicast distribution tree. A second message, received from a second device, also identifies that tree, but the second message includes second information, which conflicts with the first information. In one embodiment, the conflict is resolved by building a first version of the tree based on the first information and building a second version of the tree based on the second information. The first version is used to forward multicast packets to the first device, while the second version is used to forward multicast packets to the second device. In another embodiment, the conflict is resolved by selecting either the first information or the second information, based on a policy, and then building a single version of the tree corresponding to the selected information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, or computer executable instructions for converting Protocol Independent Mode (PIM) requests. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a first multicast routing protocol (MRP) message, wherein the first MRP message is a request to join a multicast group of receivers. The first MRP message is translated into a second MRP message, wherein the second MRP message is a request to join the multicast group of receivers to which data is being provided by a specific source. The method could be performed by a router contained in a sparse mode network, wherein the sparse mode network is coupled to a source specific mode network that contains the specific source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for routing data flow during ECMP routing between two network nodes is provided. The method may comprise determining a bandwidth requirement of a data flow during ECMP routing, the data flow to be sent between at least two network nodes, the at least two network nodes communicating via a plurality of data paths. The method may further comprise determining the available bandwidth on each of the plurality of data paths and selecting the data path having sufficient bandwidth to accommodate the bandwidth of the data flow.

Abstract: A method of authenticating a network link of a first device to a second device is described. The method includes communicating a challenge request including a challenge value from the first device to the second device, wherein challenge value is unique to the challenge request. The method further includes receiving a challenge response from the second device, in which the challenge response includes encrypted data pertaining to the first device, and authenticating the network link based on the first device decrypting the encrypted data included in the challenge response from the second device.

Abstract: A method of routing multicast traffic in a computer network is disclosed. The method comprises associating a plurality of multicast group addresses on a network device with respective multicast routing topologies. A network device and a network are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and system for providing ad-splicer N+1 redundancy in a network by employing TIP network intelligence & techniques to facilitate a redundant ad-splicer presuming, within few seconds, the functionality of the failed primary ad-splicer. The network triggers the installation of unlist and multi cast route on an interface by tracking one or more unlist routes to deliver the unlist and (pre-spliced) multi cast traffic to the redundant ad-splicer. The network dynamically adjusts the multi cast trees to continue to deliver the post-spliced multi cast traffic to the intended receivers.

Abstract: A classification mechanism to allow selected classes of multicast entries to be acted upon in a chosen order of priority during multicast distribution tree convergence is provided. Such prioritization allows for the designation of customers, networks or multicast groups to receive faster convergence of multicast distribution trees to modified multicast distribution trees in response to unavailability of an upstream router, and in performing other multicast-related tasks (e.g., PIM joins and prunes). One aspect of the present invention provides for multicast entries (also called multicast states) that are at a same priority level to be acted upon in a fair manner, thereby avoiding having certain multicast entries and their associated users from being acted upon consistently last.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate Bi-Directional PIM communication between hosts in different multicast domains. In one embodiment of the method, a first rendezvous point (RP) router contained in a first multicast domain receives a first control packet. The first control packet includes a first multicast destination address G1. In response to receiving the first control packet, the first RP router generates a second control packet. This second control packet includes a second multicast destination address G2, wherein the second multicast destination address G2 is distinct from the first multicast IP address G1. After the second control packet is generated, the first RP router transmitting the second control packet toward a second RP router contained in a second multicast domain. In one embodiment, the second control packet initiates a distribution tree building process between the first and second RP routers.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided by which a transport tree identifier can be generated using one or more identifiers for a multicast datastream. The transport tree identifier can then be used in the process of building a transport tree across a transport network. A transport network egress router can receive a request to join a multicast datastream from a downstream node outside of the transport network. The information contained in the join message that identifies the desired multicast datastream can be encoded in the transport tree identifier. The transport tree identifier can be related to one or more of a multicast group destination address, a multicast datastream source address, and a broadcast domain identifier.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product and apparatus are presented to enable a L2 network device, such as a bridge or switch, to control the flow of a multicast data stream to a connected router in response to control messages received from the router by the L2 network device. By controlling the flow of multicast data streams in this manner, there will be a corresponding reduction in wasted bandwidth due to unnecessary transmission of these multicast data streams and a reduction in processing overhead by the router due to analysis and dropping of unnecessary multicast frames. In one aspect of the present invention, the router can generate the control messages in response to receiving a data frame in a multicast data stream from the L2 network device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for constructing a repair path for multicast data around a non-available component in a data communications network having as components nodes and links therebetween. The method comprises the step performed at a repairing node, of receiving from a notifying node in a network, a notification identifying the notifying node and components through which the notifying node can be reached. The method further comprises the steps of deriving, from the notification, a network repair address for use in the event of non-availability of a component identified in the notification; and constructing a repair path for multicast data for the repair address.