Multicast routing over unidirectional links
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsStefano Previdi, Dino Farinacci, Ijsbrand Wijnands
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various systems and methods are disclosed for performing multicast routing over unidirectional links. For example, one method involves maintaining a multicast adjacency sate, which is associated with an interface that is coupled to receive messages from a network device via a unidirectional link. The multicast adjacency state identifies a network address of the network device. The method also involves sending a multicast protocol control message to the network device via a bidirectional path. The destination address of the network multicast protocol control message is the network address in the multicast adjacency state.
Claims14
1-20. (canceled)
A system comprising:
- a first network device comprising:
- a send-only interface;
- a bidirectional interface;
- and
- a routing module coupled to the send-only interface and to the bidirectional interface, wherein
- the routing module is configured to send a routing advertisement via the bidirectional interface, and
- the routing advertisement identifies a route leading to the send-only interface.
A system comprising:
- a first network device comprising:
- a bidirectional interface;
- a receive-only interface configured to be coupled to a unidirectional link;
- and
- a routing module coupled to the bidirectional interface and the receive-only interface, wherein
- the bidirectional interface is configured to receive a routing advertisement,
- the routing advertisement identifies a route leading to a send-only interface coupled to the receive-only interface by the unidirectional link,
- the receive-only interface is configured to receive a multicast protocol control message, and
- the routing module is configured to reply to the multicast protocol control message by sending a second multicast protocol control message via the bidirectional interface on the route identified in the routing advertisement
A method comprising:
- detecting that an interface coupled to a unidirectional link is a send-only interface;
- and
- sending a routing advertisement via a bidirectional interface, wherein
- the routing advertisement identifies a route leading to the send-only interface.
A method comprising:
- receiving a routing advertisement via a bidirectional interface, wherein
- the routing advertisement identifies a route leading to a send-only interface;
- receiving a multicast protocol control message from the send-only interface via a receive-only interface;
- and
- replying to the multicast protocol control message, wherein the replying comprises:
- sending a second multicast protocol control message to the send-only interface via the bidirectional interface on the route identified in the routing advertisement.
A system comprising:
- means for detecting that an interface coupled to a unidirectional link is a send-only interface;
- and
- means for sending a routing advertisement via a bidirectional interface, wherein the routing advertisement identifies a route leading to the send-only interface.
A system comprising:
- means for receiving a routing advertisement via a bidirectional interface, wherein the routing advertisement identifies a route leading to a send-only interface;
- means for receiving a multicast protocol control message from the send-only interface via a receive-only interface;
- and
- means for replying to the multicast protocol control message, wherein replying to the multicast protocol control message comprises:
- sending a second multicast protocol control message to the send-only interface via the bidirectional interface on the route identified in the routing advertisement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.