IP Library Granted Patent US 11,290,295
Granted Patent B2
US 11,290,295 · App. 16/872,282 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Multi-network operation with member node for multicast groups

Inventors: Jerome Bartier (Edinburgh, GB); James Laurence Taylor (Sherborne, GB); Viet-Hung Nguyen (Saint-Mande, FR); Hartman Van Wyk (Montloius sur Loire, FR)
Assignee: Itron, Inc.
H04L12/185H04L45/04H04L45/16H04L45/24H04L12/66H04L45/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,290,295
App. No.
16/872,282
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for bridging communication between multiple networks to facilitate distribution of multicast data are described herein. For example, a node that is able to communicate with its network and an adjacent network may send a subscription message indicating that the node is a member of a multicast group. The subscription message may be forwarded up both networks. The node may then forward, between the networks, data that is destined for members of the multicast group.

Claims (42)

1. A root node of a first network, the root node comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, the memory storing one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

sending, to a central agent, information indicating that the first network includes a member of a multicast group and that the first network is able to communicate with a second network;

receiving, from the central agent, a message requesting that the root node bridge communication between the first network and the second network to allow distribution of data to members of the multicast group;

determining that at least one of (i) a node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is a member of the multicast group, or (ii) a node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is a member of the multicast group; and

based at least in part on the determining, refraining from selecting a node to bridge communication between the first network and the second network.

2. The root node of claim 1 , wherein the information that is sent to the central agent includes a list of multicast groups that have members in the first network and a list of networks that have communicated with the first network.

3. The root node of claim 1 , wherein the message from the central agent includes a list of networks that are adjacent to the first network and that are requested to connect to in bridging communication for the multicast group, the list of networks including the second network.

4. The root node of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a subscription message indicating that a member of the multicast group of the first network is subscribing to the multicast group,

wherein the information that is sent to the central agent is based at least in part on the subscription message.

5. The root node of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is the member of the multicast group.

6. The root node of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is the member of the multicast group.

7. The root node of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that (iii) a node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is not a member of the multicast group, or (iv) a node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is not a member of the multicast group; and

based at least in part on the determining (iii) or (iv), selecting a node to bridge communication between the first network and the second network.

8. The root node of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the node of the second network or the node of the first network comprises a Limited Function Device (LFD).

9. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a root node, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

sending, to a central agent, information indicating that a first network includes a member of a multicast group and that the first network is able to communicate with a second network;

receiving, from the central agent, a message requesting that the root node bridge communication between the first network and the second network to allow distribution of data to members of the multicast group;

determining that at least one of (i) a node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is a member of the multicast group, or (ii) a node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is a member of the multicast group; and

based at least in part on the determining, refraining from selecting a node to bridge communication between the first network and the second network.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the information that is sent to the central agent includes a list of multicast groups that have members in the first network and a list of networks that have communicated with the first network.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the message from the central agent includes a list of networks that are adjacent to the first network and that are requested to connect to in bridging communication for the multicast group, the list of networks including the second network.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a subscription message indicating that a member of the multicast group of the first network is subscribing to the multicast group,

wherein the information that is sent to the central agent is based at least in part on the subscription message.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is the member of the multicast group.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is the member of the multicast group.

15. A method of bridging communication between networks, comprising:

sending, to a central agent, information indicating that a first network includes a member of a multicast group and that the first network is able to communicate with a second network;

receiving, from the central agent, a message requesting that a root node bridge communication between the first network and the second network to allow distribution of data to members of the multicast group;

determining that at least one of (i) a node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is a member of the multicast group, or (ii) a node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is a member of the multicast group; and

based at least in part on the determining, refraining from selecting a node to bridge communication between the first network and the second network.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the information that is sent to the central agent includes a list of multicast groups that have members in the first network and a list of networks that have communicated with the first network.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the message from the central agent includes a list of networks that are adjacent to the first network and that are requested to connect to in bridging communication for the multicast group, the list of networks including the second network.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving a subscription message indicating that a member of the multicast group of the first network is subscribing to the multicast group,

wherein the information that is sent to the central agent is based at least in part on the subscription message.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the node of the second network that is able to communicate with the first network is the member of the multicast group.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the node of the first network that is able to communicate with the second network is the member of the multicast group.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2023
From: ITRON, INC.; ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065727/0302 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2020
From: BARTIER, JEROME; TAYLOR, JAMES LAURENCE; VAN WYK, HARTMAN; NGUYEN, VIET-HUNG
To: ITRON, INC.
Reel/Frame 052642/0729 →