Method and apparatus for scalable virtual private network multicasting
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorMaria Napierala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for scalable virtual private network multicasting. In one embodiment a service network builds a new data multicast distribution tree for each high-bandwidth multicast data flow (e.g., multicast data flows that require an amount bandwidth meeting or exceeding a predefined threshold). However, if the multicast data flow is a low-bandwidth flow (e.g., if the required amount of bandwidth falls below the predefined threshold), the multicast data flow is routed over an existing multicast distribution tree in order to minimize an amount of state information that must be maintained by service provider core routers in the backbone network.
Claims19
A method for sending multicast data from a source to at least one receiver, the method comprising:
- providing at least one existing multicast distribution tree;
- building a new data multicast distribution tree for sending said multicast data to said at least one receiver if an amount of bandwidth required to send said multicast data meets or exceeds a predefined threshold;
- or
- sending said multicast data to said at least one receiver over an existing multicast distribution tree if said amount of bandwidth required to send said multicast data falls below said predefined threshold.
A computer readable medium containing an executable program for sending multicast data from a source to at least one receiver, where the program performs the steps of:
- providing at least one existing multicast distribution tree;
- building a new data multicast distribution tree for sending said multicast data to said at least one receiver if an amount of bandwidth required to send said multicast data meets or exceeds a predefined threshold;
- or
- sending said multicast data to said at least one receiver over an existing multicast distribution tree if said amount of bandwidth required to send said multicast data falls below said predefined threshold.
Apparatus for sending multicast data from a source to at least one receiver, the apparatus comprising:
- means for providing at least one existing multicast distribution tree;
- means for building a new data multicast distribution tree for sending said multicast data to said at least one receiver if an amount of bandwidth required to send said multicast data meets or exceeds a predefined threshold;
- and
- means for sending said multicast data to said at least one receiver over an existing multicast distribution tree if said amount of bandwidth required to send said multicast data falls below said predefined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.