Method and apparatus for routing multicast data across multiple multicast routing domains connected by a shortest path bridging (SPB) network
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for routing multicast data across multiple multicast routing domains connected by a shortest path bridging (SPB) network is presented. A Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) edge router of an SPB network connected to a PIM network is configured as a Rendezvous Point (RP). A message is received at the RP, and in response, the RP forms a first data structure including multicast sender information. The RP floods the SPB network with a second message containing the first data structure, allocates an Identifier to the multicast stream, and sends a second data structure with sender information. An edge router with multicast receive interest responds with the second data structure with multicast receive interest information. As a result, a receiver in a second network has knowledge of devices in a first network such that multicast traffic is able to be routed between different networks connected to the SPB network.
1. A computer-implemented method in which a computer system performs operations comprising:
configuring each of a plurality of Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) edge routers of an SPB network connected to a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) based access network as a Rendezvous Point (RP);
receiving at a first one of the plurality of RPs a first message;
in response to the receiving a first message, the first one of the plurality of RPs forming a first data structure, the first data structure including multicast sender information comprising: Intermediate System to Intermediate System Internet Protocol Multicast Type, Length, Value (ISIS IPMC TLV) data structure;
flooding, by the first one of the plurality of RPs, the SPB network with a second message containing the first data structure;
allocating, by the first one of the plurality of RPs, an identifier (ISID) to the multicast stream and sending a second data structure with sender information;
for an edge router with multicast receive interest, responding with the second data structure with multicast receive interest information; and
wherein a receiver in a second network external to the SPB network has knowledge of devices in a first network external to the SPB network such that multicast traffic is able to be routed between different networks connected to the SPB network.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network and the second network use a different protocol than a network protocol used by the SPB network.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first message comprises a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) Register message.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second message comprises an Intermediate System to Intermediate System Link State Packet (ISIS LSP) message.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second data structure comprises an identifier that the SPB network uses to construct (Backbone Virtual Local Area Network, Backbone Media Access Controller (BVLAN, BMAC)) based multicast state used to forward multicast traffic in the SPB network.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein multicast receive interest in an edge router is the result of multicast receivers in an access network joined to this group.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, for an edge router without multicast receive interest, storing the first data structure.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein when the edge router joins, the edge router looks for sender information in the first data structure and if a first data structure for the sender exists, then the receiver sends the first data structure with the receive interest.
9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for routing multicast data across multiple routing domains connected by a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) bridge, the medium including instructions in which a computer system performs operations comprising:
configuring each of a plurality of Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) edge routers of an SPB network connected to a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) based access network as a Rendezvous Point (RP);
receiving at a first one of the plurality of RPs a first message;
in response to the receiving a first message, the first one of the plurality of RPs forming a first data structure, the first data structure including multicast sender information comprising: Intermediate System to Intermediate System Internet Protocol Multicast Type, Length, Value (ISIS IPMC TLV) data structure;
30 flooding, by the first one of the plurality of RPs, the SPB network with a second message containing the first data structure;
allocating, by the first one of the plurality of RPs, an identifier (ISID) to the multicast stream and sending a second data structure with sender information;
for an edge router with multicast receive interest, responding with the second data structure with multicast receive interest information; and
wherein a receiver in a second network external to the SPB network has knowledge of devices in a first network external to the SPB network such that multicast traffic is able to be routed between different networks connected to the SPB network.
10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions wherein the first network and the second network use a different protocol than a network protocol used by the SPB network.
11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions wherein the first message comprises a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) Register message.
12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions wherein the second message comprises an Intermediate System to Intermediate System Link State Packet (ISIS LSP) message.
13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions wherein the second data structure comprises an identifier that the SPB network uses to construct (Backbone Virtual Local Area Network, Backbone Media Access Controller (BVLAN, BMAC)) based multicast state used to forward multicast 30 traffic in the SPB network.
14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions wherein multicast receive interest in an edge router is the result of multicast receivers in an access network joined to this group.
15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising for an edge router without multicast receive interest, instructions for storing the first data structure.
16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions wherein when the edge router joins, the edge router looks for sender information in the first data structure and if a first data structure for the sender exists, then the receiver sends the first data structure with the receive interest.
17. A computer system comprising:
a memory;
a processor;
a communications interface;
an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and
wherein the memory is encoded with an application for routing multicast data across multiple routing domains connected by an Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) bridge, that when performed on the processor, provides a process for processing information, the process causing the computer system to perform the operations of:
configuring each of a plurality of Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) edge routers of an SPB network connected to a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) based access network as a Rendezvous Point (RP);
receiving at a first one of the plurality of RPs a first message;
in response to the receiving a first message, the first one of the plurality of RPs forming a first data structure, the first data structure including multicast sender information comprising: Intermediate System to Intermediate System Internet Protocol Multicast Type, Length, Value (ISIS IPMC TLV) data structure;
flooding, by the first one of the plurality of RPs, the SPB network with a second message containing the first data structure;
allocating, by the first one of the plurality of RPs, an identifier (ISID) to the multicast stream and sending a second data structure with sender information;
for an edge router with multicast receive interest, responding with the second data structure with multicast receive interest information; and
wherein a receiver in a second network external to the SPB network has knowledge of devices in a first network external to the SPB network such that multicast traffic is able to be routed between different networks connected to the SPB network.
18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the first message comprises a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) Register message, wherein the first data structure comprises an Intermediate System to Intermediate System Internet Protocol Multicast Type, Length, Value (ISIS IPMC TLV) data structure, wherein the second message comprises an Intermediate System to Intermediate System Link State Packet (ISIS LSP) message, and
wherein the second data structure comprises an identifier that the SPB network uses to construct (Backbone Virtual Local Area Network, Backbone Media Access Controller (BVLAN, BMAC)) based multicast state used to forward multicast traffic in the SPB network.