Multicast tree monitoring method and system in ip network
AssigneeFujitsu Limited
InventorTetsuya Nishi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with an instruction from a network monitoring device (4), a transmission terminal (2T) serving as a source of video information transmits a certain amount of monitoring test packets differentiated from the usual multicast frames. Pass status information (for example, MIB information) generated by routers (3) receiving and passing through the continuous test packets is collected at the network monitoring device (4). The device (4) uses the collected pass status information and topology information which the device (4) holds by itself so as to judge the direction of transmission of the test packets at the interface of each router (3) and specifies the multicast tree based on the results of judgment.
Claims16
A multicast tree monitoring method for searching for transmission routes of multicast frames by a network monitoring device in an IP network comprised of a transmission terminal which transmits multicast frames, a plurality of receiving terminals which receive said multicast frames, and a plurality of routers arranged on tree-shaped multicast frame transmission routes from said transmission terminal to said plurality of receiving terminals,
- said multicast tree monitoring method in an IP network comprising:
- (a) having said network monitoring device instruct said transmission terminal to transmit monitoring test packets differentiated from said normally transmitted multicast frames,
- (b) having said transmission terminal transmit said test packets toward said routers in accordance with said instruction,
- (c) having each of said routers receiving said transmitted test packets and passing them through generate pass status information of said test packets, and
- (d) having said network monitoring device judge transmission directions of said test packets on said IP network based on said pass status information collected from said routers and specify said tree-shaped transmission routes by the result of this judgment.
A multicast tree monitoring system for searching for transmission routes of multicast frames by a network monitoring device in an IP network comprised of a transmission terminal which transmits multicast frames, a plurality of receiving terminals which receive said multicast frames, and a plurality of routers arranged on tree-shaped multicast frame transmission routes from said transmission terminal to said plurality of receiving terminals,
- said multicast tree monitoring system comprised of
- an instruction functional part, provided in said network monitoring device, for instructing said transmission terminal to transmit monitoring test packets differentiated from said normally transmitted multicast frames,
- a transmission functional part, provided in said transmission terminal, for transmitting said test packets toward said routers in accordance with said instruction,
- a status information generation functional part, provided at each of said routers receiving said transmitted test packets and passing them through, for generating pass status information of said test packets, and
- a judgment functional part, further provided in said network monitoring device, for judging transmission directions of said test packets on said IP network based on said pass status information collected from said routers and specifying said tree-shaped transmission routes by the result of this judgment.
A network monitoring device, in a multicast tree monitoring system, for searching for transmission routes of multicast frames by the network monitoring device in an IP network comprised of a transmission terminal which transmits multicast frames, a plurality of receiving terminals which receive said multicast frames, and a plurality of routers arranged on tree-shaped multicast frame transmission routes from said transmission terminal to said plurality of receiving terminals,
- said network monitoring device comprising:
- an instruction functional part for instructing said transmission terminal to transmit monitoring test packets differentiated from said normally transmitted multicast frames and
- a judgment functional part for judging transmission directions of said test packets on said IP network based on pass status information of said test packets generated at each of said routers receiving said transmitted test packets and passing them through and for specifying said tree-shaped multicast frame transmission routes by the results of the judgment.
A transmission terminal, in a multicast tree monitoring system for searching for transmission routes of multicast frames by a network monitoring device in an IP network comprised of a transmission terminal which transmits multicast frames, a plurality of receiving terminals which receive said multicast frames, and a plurality of routers arranged on tree-shaped multicast frame transmission routes from said transmission terminal to said plurality of receiving terminals,
- said transmission terminal comprising a transmission functional part for receiving an instruction from said network monitoring device to transmit monitoring test packets differentiated from normally transmitted multicast frames and transmitting said test packets toward said routers.
A router, in a multicast tree monitoring system for searching for transmission routes of multicast frames by a network monitoring device in an IP network comprised of a transmission terminal which transmits multicast frames, a plurality of receiving terminals which receive said multicast frames, and a plurality of routers arranged on tree-shaped multicast frame transmission routes from said transmission terminal to said plurality of receiving terminals,
- said router provided with a status information generation functional part for generating pass status information of said test packets when it receives and passes through said test packets transmitted from said transmission terminal for use for said search by said network monitoring device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.