Routing of point-to-multipoint services in a multi-domain network

1. A method for use in routing Point-to-Multi-Point (P2MP) services in a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the method comprising a Child Path Computation Element (C-PCE) of one of the domains:

determining summarized domain topology information about the domain, the summarized domain topology information comprising

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

sending the summarized domain topology information to a Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the C-PCE:

determining inter-domain connectivity information which indicates if a node of the domain is connected to a node of another domain; and

sending the inter-domain connectivity information to the P-PCE.

3. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the determining comprises determining service parameters of the summarized topology of the domain;

further comprising the C-PCE sending the service parameters to the P-PCE.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending the summarized domain topology information uses at least one Path Computation Element Protocol message.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the summarized domain typology information further comprises an indicator of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services, the indicator comprises a Path Computation Element Protocol Type-Length-Value Type indicator.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services comprises a Branch Node Capability object of a Path Computation Element Protocol message.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the C-PCE:

receiving a request, from the P-PCE, to compute an intra-domain path;

computing an intra-domain path.

8. A method for use in routing Point-to-Multi-Point (P2MP) services in a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the method comprising a Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE) of the domains:

receiving summarized domain topology information from a Child Path Computation Element (C-PCE) of one of the domains, the summarized domain topology information comprising at least one of:

an indication of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

computing an end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree using a topology based on the summarized domain topology information received from the C-PCEs.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving at least one of:

inter-domain connectivity information which indicates if a node of a domain is connected to a node of another domain; and

service parameters of the summarized topology of the domain.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a request to set up a Point-to-Multipoint service between domains;

computing the end to end Point to Multipoint tree responsive to the request, wherein the end-to-end tree comprises a plurality of the domains; and

requesting Child Path Computation Elements of domains in the computed end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree to compute an intra-domain path.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the requesting comprises requesting a Child Path Computation Element of a domain in the computed end-to-end tree to perform a branch point for the Point-to-Multipoint tree.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the summarized domain topology information is received in at least one Path Computation Element Protocol message.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the indication of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services comprises a Path Computation Element Protocol Type-Length-Value Type indicator.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services comprises a Branch Node Capability object of a Path Computation Element Protocol message.

15. A Child Path Computation Element (C-PCE) for a domain of a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the C-PCE comprising:

one or more processing circuits configured to function as a domain summarization circuit configured to determine summarized topology domain information about the domain, the summarized domain topology information comprising

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and,

an interface configured to send the summarized domain topology information to a Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE).

16. A Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE) for a domain of a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the P-PCE comprising:

an interface configured to receive summarized domain topology information from Child Path Computation Elements (C-PCE) of the domains, wherein the summarized domain topology information comprises at least one of:

an indication of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

one or more processors configured to function as a route computation circuit configured to compute an end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree using a topology based on the summarized domain topology information received from the C-PCEs.

17. The P-PCE of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processing circuits are further configured to request, via the interface, C-PCEs of domains in the computed end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree to compute an intra-domain path.

18. A network comprising:

a plurality of domains;

a Hierarchical Path Computation Element, (H-PCE) architecture, comprising:

a Parent Path Computation Element, P-PCE comprising:

an interface configured to receive summarized domain topology information from Child Path Computation Elements (C-PCE) of the domains, wherein the summarized domain topology information comprises at least one of:

an indication of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

one or more processors configured to function as a route computation circuit configured to compute an end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree using a topology based on the summarized domain topology information received from the C-PCEs;

a C-PCE associated with each of the domains, the C-PCE comprising:

one or more processing circuits configured to function as a domain summarization circuit configured to determine the summarized topology domain information about the domain; and

an interface configured to send the summarized domain topology information to the P-PCE.

19. A Child Path Computation Element (C-PCE) for a domain of a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the C-PCE comprising:

a processor and a memory;

wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the C-PCE is operative to:

determine summarized topology domain information about the domain, the summarized domain topology information comprising

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

send the summarized domain topology information to a Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE).

20. A Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE) for a domain of a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the P-PCE comprising:

a processor and a memory;

wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the P-PCE is operative to:

receive summarized domain topology information from Child Path Computation Elements (C-PCE) of the domains, wherein the summarized domain topology information comprises at least one of:

an indication of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services;

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

compute an end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree using a topology based on the summarized domain topology information received from the C-CPEs.

21. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for routing Point-to-Multi-Point (P2MP) services in a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on one or more processing circuits of a Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE) of the domains, causes the P-CPE to:

receive summarized domain topology information from a Child Path Computation Element (C-PCE) of one of the domains, the summarized domain topology information comprising at least one of:

an indication of whether the domain is capable of supporting Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

compute an end-to-end Point-to-Multi-Point tree using a topology based on the summarized domain topology information received from the C-PCEs.

22. A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for routing Point-to-Multi-Point (P2MP) services in a multi-domain network with a Hierarchical Path Computation Element (H-PCE) architecture, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on one or more processing circuits of a Child Path Computation Element (C-PCE) of one of the domains, causes the C-CPE to:

determine summarized domain topology information about the domain, the summarized domain topology information comprising

an indication of whether a node of the summarized domain topology is capable of supporting a branch point for Point-to-Multi-Point services; and

send the summarized domain topology information to a Parent Path Computation Element (P-PCE).