Traffic control in hybrid networks containing both software defined networking domains and non-SDN IP domains

1. A method comprising managing multicast transmissions by a Software Defined Networking controller (SDN controller), the multicast transmissions being performed according to one or more multicast protocols which allow network nodes to join multicast groups while operating as network nodes, and allow network nodes to leave multicast groups while operating as network nodes, each multicast group being a group of receivers of a multicast transmission, the managing comprising:

obtaining, by the SDN controller of an SDN domain, a first request pertaining to multicast;

determining by the SDN controller, in response to the first request, a multicast topology modification to be performed in a non-SDN IP domain for the first request, the multicast topology modification requiring a reconfiguration of one or more routers with respect to one or more multicast paths, wherein each of the one or more routers is in the non-SDN IP domain but not in the SDN domain; and

generating, by the SDN controller, a second request for a first router of the non-SDN IP domain to initiate the modification.

2. A Software Defined Network controller configured to perform the method of claim 1 .

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the modification is to be performed upstream of the first router in at least one said multicast path, wherein initiating the modification comprises the first router sending a request to another router in the at least one said multicast path to reconfigure the other router for said modification.

4. A Software Defined Networking controller configured to perform the method of claim 1 .

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the modification comprises creating at least one said multicast path upstream of the first router, wherein initiating the modification comprises the first router sending a request to another router in the at least one said multicast path to reconfigure the other router for said modification.

6. A Software Defined Network controller configured to perform the method of claim 5 .

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the second request specifies each router in the at least one said multicast path upstream of the first router.

8. A Software Defined Network controller configured to perform the method of claim 7 .

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the modification comprises deleting at least one said multicast path upstream of the first router, wherein initiating the modification comprises the first router sending a request to another router in the at least one said multicast path to reconfigure the other router for said modification.

10. A Software Defined Network controller configured to perform the method of claim 9 .

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the first request is in response to a network node requesting to join or leave a multicast tree.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first request is in response to a network node sending data to a multicast group.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining by the SDN controller, in response to the first request, a multicast topology modification to be performed in the SDN domain for the first request; and

sending by the SDN controller one or more requests to one or more routers in the SDN domain to implement the multicast topology modification in the SDN domain.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the multicast topology modification in the SDN domain and the multicast topology modification in the non-SDN domain involve creating at least one said multicast path present both in the SDN domain and in the non-SDN domain.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the multicast topology modification in the SDN domain and the multicast topology modification in the non-SDN domain involve deleting at least one said multicast path present both in the SDN domain and in the non-SDN domain.

16. A method for managing multicast transmissions by a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller, the method comprising:

maintaining, by the SDN controller, multicast topology information on one or more multicast distribution paths each of which is present in both an SDN domain controlled by the SDN controller, and in a non-SDN IP domain, the one or more multicast distribution paths comprising one or more routers each of which is part of the non-SDN IP domain but is not part of the SDN domain, the multicast topology information describing a configuration of each said router with respect to the one or more multicast paths;

wherein said maintaining comprises receiving, by the SDN controller, the multicast topology information from at least one said router in the non-SDN IP domain; and

wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the SDN controller, that a negative condition exists in the one or more multicast distribution paths in the non-SDN IP domain, and determining a desired change of the one or more multicast distribution paths to relieve the negative condition; and

generating by the SDN controller a Redirect request for a first downstream router which is part of at least one said path and of the non-SDN IP domain, and which is downstream of the desired change, the Redirect request requesting the first downstream router to initiate the desired change.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the Redirect request is sent to a hybrid router for forwarding to the first downstream router, the hybrid router being part of the non-SDN IP domain and of the SDN domain.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the Redirect request specifies each router in a new multicast path to be formed in the desired change.

19. A Software Defined Networking controller configured to perform the method of claim 16 .