Controlling protocol independent multicast (PIM) join/prune messages from a downstream PIM neighbor using a PIM join/prune response(s) from an upstream PIM neighbor

A system including a device running a protocol independent multicast (PIM) protocol, the device comprising:

• a) at least one communication interface;
• b) at least one processor;
• and
• c) a storage device storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method including
• 1) sending a PIM join/prune message to an upstream PIM peer, the PIM join/prune message including a unique message identifier value,
• 2) responsive to sending the PIM join/prune message,
• starting a quick refresh timer, and
• starting a standard refresh timer, wherein the standard refresh timer is longer than the quick refresh timer,
• 3) determining whether or not the quick fresh timer expired,
• 4) responsive to a determination that the quick refresh timer expired,
• resending the PIM join/prune message to the upstream PIM peer, and
• restarting the quick refresh timer,
• 5) determining whether or not the standard refresh timer expired,
• 6) responsive to a determination that the standard refresh timer expired,
• resending the PIM join/prune message to the upstream PIM peer, and
• restarting the standard refresh timer,
• 7) receiving a PIM join/prune response message from the upstream PIM peer, wherein the PIM join/prune response message includes a unique message identifier value,
• 8) responsive to receiving the PIM join/prune response message, determining whether or not the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune response message matches the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune message, and
• 9) responsive to determining that the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune response message does match the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune message, stopping the quick refresh timer.

A computer-readable, non-transitory, storage device storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method including:

• a) sending a protocol independent multicast (PIM) join/prune message to an upstream PIM peer, the PIM join/prune message including a unique message identifier value;
• b) responsive to sending the PIM join/prune message,
• 1) starting a quick refresh timer, and
• 2) starting a standard refresh timer, wherein the standard refresh timer is longer than the quick refresh timer;
• c) determining whether or not the quick fresh timer expired;
• d) responsive to a determination that the quick refresh timer expired,
• 1) resending the PIM join/prune message to the upstream PIM peer, and
• 2) restarting the quick refresh timer;
• e) determining whether or not the standard refresh timer expired;
• f) responsive to a determination that the standard refresh timer expired,
• 1) resending the PIM join/prune message to the upstream PIM peer, and
• 2) restarting the standard refresh timer;
• g) receiving a PIM join/prune response message from the upstream PIM peer, wherein the PIM join/prune response message includes a unique message identifier value;
• h) responsive to receiving the PIM join/prune response message, determining whether or not the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune response message matches the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune message;
• and
• i) responsive to determining that the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune response message does match the unique message identifier value in the PIM join/prune message, stopping the quick refresh timer.