IP Library Granted Patent US 9,819,514
Granted Patent B2
US 9,819,514 · App. 14/697,055 · Granted Nov 14, 2017

Processing stream messages

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,819,514
App. No.
14/697,055
Granted
Nov 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for processing stream messages are disclosed. In one aspect, a downstream message formatted according to an asymmetric communication protocol is received over a downstream Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). An upstream message is generated in response to receiving the downstream message. The downstream message is transmitted on the downstream VLAN. The upstream message is transmitted on an upstream VLAN that is different than the downstream multicast VLAN.

Claims (74)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, over a downstream Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a downstream message formatted according to an asymmetric communication protocol; and

in response to receiving the downstream message:

generating an upstream message;

transmitting the received downstream message on the downstream VLAN; and

after transmitting the received downstream message on the downstream VLAN, transmitting the generated upstream message on an upstream VLAN that is different than the downstream VLAN.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upstream VLAN is created by a multicast message specifying one or more characteristics of the upstream VLAN.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a different upstream message on the upstream VLAN; and

transmitting, without processing, the different upstream message on the upstream VLAN.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asymmetric communication protocol is an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the downstream message is an IGMP query message.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the upstream message is an IGMP report message.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the downstream VLAN and the upstream VLAN operate on the same physical Local Area Network (LAN).

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a given node of a first ring network and over a first VLAN, a downstream message from a root node of the first ring network;

in response to receiving the downstream message from the root node of the first ring network, transmitting, by the given node and over the first VLAN, the downstream message to a downstream node of a second ring network that is different than the first ring network, wherein the downstream node of the second ring network is a node of the first ring network;

receiving, by the given node and over the first VLAN, an upstream message from the downstream node of the second ring network; and

in response to receiving the upstream message from the downstream node of the second ring network, transmitting, by the given node, the upstream message to the root node over a second VLAN that is different than the first VLAN.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

receiving, by the given node and over the second VLAN, an upstream message from another node of the first ring network; and

forwarding, without processing and over the second VLAN, the upstream message to the root node of the first ring network.

10. A method comprising:

determining, by a given node, that downstream messages and upstream messages are to be transmitted over a ring network using an asymmetric communications protocol, wherein the given node is a root node of the ring network;

in response to the determination:

establishing, by the given node, a first VLAN over which the downstream messages are transmitted; and

establishing, by the given node, a second VLAN over which the upstream messages are transmitted, the second VLAN being different than the first VLAN.

11. A telecommunications device, comprising:

a communications interface that is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a telecommunications network; and

at least one hardware processor interoperably coupled with the communications interface and configured to:

in response to receiving a downstream message over a downstream Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), the downstream message being formatted according to an asymmetric communication protocol:

generate an upstream message;

transmit the received downstream message on the downstream VLAN; and

after transmitting the received downstream message on the downstream VLAN, transmit the generated upstream message on an upstream VLAN that is different than the downstream VLAN.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the upstream VLAN is created by a multicast message specifying one or more characteristics of the upstream VLAN.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to:

transmit, without processing, a different upstream message on the upstream VLAN in response to receiving the different upstream message on the upstream VLAN.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the asymmetric communication protocol is an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the downstream message is an IGMP query message.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the upstream message is an IGMP report message.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the downstream VLAN and the upstream VLAN operate on the same physical Local Area Network (LAN).

18. A telecommunications node, comprising:

a communications interface that is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a telecommunications network; and

at least one hardware processor interoperably coupled with the memory and configured to:

receive, over a first VLAN, a downstream message from a root node of a first ring network;

in response to receiving the downstream message from the root node of the first ring network, transmit, over the first VLAN, the downstream message to a downstream node of a second ring network that is different than the first ring network, wherein the downstream node of the second ring network is a node of the first ring network;

receive, over the first VLAN, an upstream message from the downstream node of the second ring network; and

in response to receiving the upstream message from the downstream node of the second ring network, transmit the upstream message to the root node over a second VLAN that is different than the first VLAN.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to:

receive, over the second VLAN, an upstream message from another node of the first ring network; and

forward, without processing and over the second VLAN, the upstream message to the root node of the first ring network.

20. A telecommunications device, comprising:

a communications interface that is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a telecommunications network; and

at least one hardware processor interoperably coupled with the memory and configured to:

determine that downstream messages and upstream messages are to be transmitted over a ring network using an asymmetric communications protocol, wherein the telecommunications device is a root node of the ring network;

in response to the determination:

establish a first VLAN over which the downstream messages are transmitted; and

establish a second VLAN over which the upstream messages are transmitted, the second VLAN being different than the first VLAN.

21. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a computer and configured to:

receive, over a downstream Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a downstream message formatted according to an asymmetric communication protocol; and

in response to receiving the downstream message:

generate an upstream message;

transmit the received downstream message on the downstream VLAN; and

after transmitting the received downstream message on the downstream VLAN, transmit the generated upstream message on an upstream VLAN that is different than the downstream VLAN.

22. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a computer and configured to:

receive, by a given node of a first ring network and over a first VLAN, a downstream message from a root node of the first ring network;

in response to receiving the downstream message from the root node of the first ring network, transmit, by the given node and over the first VLAN, the downstream message to a downstream node of a second ring network that is different than the first ring network, wherein the downstream node of the second ring network is a node of the first ring network;

receive, by the given node and over the first VLAN, an upstream message from the downstream node of the second ring network; and

in response to receiving the upstream message from the downstream node of the second ring network, transmit, by the given node, the upstream message to the root node over a second VLAN that is different than the first VLAN.

23. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a computer and configured to:

determine, by a given node, that downstream messages and upstream messages are to be transmitted over a ring network using an asymmetric communications protocol, wherein the given node is a root node of the ring network;

in response to the determination:

establish, by the given node, a first VLAN over which the downstream messages are transmitted; and

establish, by the given node, a second VLAN over which the upstream messages are transmitted, the second VLAN being different than the first VLAN.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: ADTRAN, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060692/0249 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2015
From: JOHNSON, MILTON JAY
To: ADTRAN INC.
Reel/Frame 035509/0982 →