System and method for multi-source multicasting in content-centric networks

1. A computer-executable method for updating routing information associated with a multicast group in an information-centric network (ICN), the method comprising:

receiving, by a first node in the ICN, an update message for the multicast group from a neighbor node:

wherein the multicast group is associated with a prefix of a Hierarchically Structured Variable Length Identifier (HSVLI), which comprises a variable number of name components ordered from a most general name component to a most specific name component;

wherein the multicast group includes a number of anchor nodes associated with the HSVLI prefix, including a root anchor node having a name with a smallest lexicographical value among the anchor nodes; and

wherein the update message specifies the HSVLI prefix;

selecting, based on topology information stored on the first node, from neighbors of the first node one or more next-hop neighbors that meet a notification condition, wherein the one or more neighbors meeting the notification condition provide a minimal sum of distance and link cost to the first node; and

forwarding the update message to the one or more next-hop neighbors.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a next-hop neighbor that meets the notification condition is an anchor node of the multicast group, and all neighbors of the anchor node report the anchor node as a preferred anchor node.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more neighbors meeting, the notification condition provide a smallest lexicographical value among neighbors possessing the minimal sum of distance and link cost to the first node.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by a second node intended to join the multicast group, a join request;

selecting a neighbor of the second node as a next-hop node to the root anchor of the multicast group based on an ordering condition, wherein the next-hop node of the second node to the root anchor node provides a shortest path to the root anchor node; and

forwarding the join request to the selected neighbor of the second node.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving a response to the join request sent from the root anchor node or an anchor node of the multicast group;

wherein the response traverses a reverse path of the join request to the second node.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

establishing a multi-instantiated destination spanning tree (MIDST) associated with the HSVLI prefix, wherein the MIDST connects the root anchor node, the anchor nodes, and one or more routers that receive the join request; and

updating, in a multipoint routing table entry associated with the HSVLI prefix, a list of neighbors that have joined the MIDST associated with the HSVLI prefix.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the root anchor node and the anchor nodes are one of:

sources of the multicast group; and

receivers of the multicast group.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform a method for updating routing information associated with a multicast group in an information-centric network (ICN), the method comprising:

receiving, by a first node in the ICN, an update message for the multicast group from a neighbor node:

wherein the multicast group is associated with a prefix of a Hierarchically Structured Variable Length Identifier (HSVLI), which comprises a variable number of name components ordered from a most general name component to a most specific name component;

wherein the multicast group includes a number of anchor nodes associated with the HSVLI prefix, including a root anchor node having a name with a smallest lexicographical value among the anchor nodes; and

wherein the update message specifies the HSVLI prefix;

selecting, based on topology information stored on the first node, from neighbors of the first node one or more next-hop neighbors that meet a notification condition, wherein the one or more neighbors meeting the notification condition provide a minimal sum of distance and link cost to the first node; and

forwarding the update message to the one or more next-hop neighbors.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a next-hop neighbor that meets the notification condition is an anchor node of the multicast group, and all neighbors of the anchor node report the anchor node as a preferred anchor node.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more neighbors meeting the notification condition provide a smallest lexicographical value among neighbors possessing the minimal sum of distance and link cost to the first node.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:

generating, by a second node intended to join the multicast group, a join request;

selecting a neighbor of the second node as a next-hop node to the root anchor of the multicast group based on an ordering condition, wherein the next-hop node of the second node to the root anchor node provides a shortest path to the root anchor node; and

forwarding the join request to the selected neighbor of the second node.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response to the join request sent from the root anchor node or an anchor node of the multicast group;

wherein the response traverses a reverse path of the join request to the second node.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises establishing a multi-instantiated destination spanning tree (MIDST) associated with the HSVLI prefix, wherein the MIDST connects the root anchor node, the anchor nodes, and one or more routers that receive the join request; and

updating, in a multipoint routing table entry associated with the HSVLI prefix, a list of neighbors that have joined the MIDST associated with the HSVLI prefix.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the root anchor node and the anchor nodes are one of:

sources of the multicast group; and

receivers of the multicast group.

15. A computer system for updating routing information associated with a multicast group in an information-centric network (ICN), the system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first node in the ICN, an update message for the multicast group from a neighbor node:

wherein the multicast group is associated with a prefix of a Hierarchically Structured Variable Length Identifier (HSVLI), which comprises a variable number of name components ordered from a most general name component to a most specific name component;

wherein the multicast group includes a number of anchor nodes associated with the HSVLI prefix, including a root anchor node having a name with a smallest lexicographical value among the anchor nodes: and

wherein the update message specifies the HSVLI prefix;

selecting, based on topology information stored on the first node, from neighbors of the first node one or more next-hop neighbors that meet a notification condition,

wherein the one or more neighbors meeting the notification condition provide a minimal sum of distance and link cost to the first node; and

forwarding the update message to the one or more next-hop neighbors.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a next-hop neighbor that meets the notification condition is an anchor node of the multicast group, and all neighbors of the anchor node report the anchor node as a preferred anchor node.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more neighbors meeting, the notification condition provide a smallest lexicographical value among neighbors possessing the minimal sum of distance and link cost to the first node.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

generating, by a second node intended to join the multicast group, a join request;

selecting a neighbor of the second node as a next-hop node to the root anchor of the multicast group based on an ordering condition, wherein the next-hop node of the second node to the root anchor node provides a shortest path to the root anchor node; and

forwarding the join request to the selected neighbor of the second node.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response to the join request sent from the root anchor node or an anchor node of the multicast group;

wherein the response traverses a reverse path of the join request to the second node.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises establishing a multi-instantiated destination spanning tree (MIDST) associated with the HSVLI prefix, wherein the MIDST connects the root anchor node, the anchor nodes, and one or more routers that receive the join request; and

updating, in a multipoint routing table entry associated with the HSVLI prefix, a list of neighbors that have joined the MIDST associated with the HSVLI prefix.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises establishing a MIDST that includes the root anchor node, the anchor nodes, and one or more routers that receive the join request.