Building multipoint-to-multipoint label switch paths
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsIjsbrand Wijnands, Arjen Beers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Creating, maintaining, and using multipoint-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSP) in a provider network using a protocol such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) are presented. A multipoint-to-multipoint LSP, allowing bi-directional multicast-type transmission between routers in a core provider network, is provided, in part, by configuring routers within the core network to associate not only an upstream data interface with an upstream label, but also each downstream interface with an upstream label in an upstream state.
Claims17
A method for creating a multipoint-to-multipoint tree, the method comprising:
- a first network router determining a first upstream label for use in a multipoint-to-multipoint tree;
- and
- the first network router storing a first upstream state comprising
- the first upstream label and a corresponding upstream ingress interface identifier of a first network router element, and
- one or more downstream egress interface identifiers of the first network router element and corresponding downstream labels.
A network router element comprising:
- a first interface coupled to a first downstream network router element;
- a second interface coupled to an upstream network router element, wherein
- the first and second interfaces are configured to transmit and receive one or more datastreams,
- downstream is away from a root network element of a multipoint-to-multipoint network tree, and
- upstream is toward the root network element of the multipoint-to-multipoint network tree;
- one or more downstream interfaces coupled to downstream network router elements;
- and
- one or more processors coupled to the first and second interfaces, and the one or more
- downstream interfaces, and configured to
- determine a first upstream label for use in the multipoint-to-multipoint tree,
- store a first upstream state comprising
- the first upstream label and an identifier of the first interface, and
- an identifier of each of the one or more downstream interfaces and corresponding downstream labels.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first interface coupled to a first downstream network router element;
- a second interface coupled to an upstream network router element, wherein
- the first and second interfaces are configured to transmit and receive one or more datastreams,
- downstream is away from a root network element of a multipoint-to-multipoint network tree, and
- upstream is toward the root network element of the multipoint-to-multipoint network tree;
- one or more downstream interfaces coupled to downstream network router elements;
- means for determining a first upstream label for use in a multipoint-to-multipoint network tree;
- and
- means for storing a first upstream state comprising
- the first upstream label and a corresponding upstream ingress interface identifier, and
- one or more downstream labels and corresponding downstream egress interface identifiers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.