BIER Multicast Forwarding via Registration Router
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Bit Index Explicit Replication (BIER) technology lacks a method for forwarding multicast packets, which hinders the rapid deployment and interconnection of BIER networks with conventional multicast networks.
Innovation Solution
A multicast forwarding method is introduced that allows Bit-Forwarding Egress Routers (BFERs) to determine and register with registration routers, generating and sending registration messages to support multicast groups, enabling the creation of BIER multicast packets that can be forwarded within BIER networks and interconnected with conventional multicast networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If BIER technology is deployed without multicast forwarding method, then packet transmission through multiple BFRs is enabled, but multicast packet forwarding capability is missing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast forwarding function by introducing a dedicated Registration Router that handles multicast group registration separately from the BIER forwarding plane. This separation allows BFRs to forward packets using simple bitstring matching without maintaining complex multicast topology information, while the Registration Router maintains the necessary state for multicast group management.
Solution Approach 2:
The Registration Router acts as an intermediary between multicast sources and BFERs. It receives multicast join messages from BFERs, maintains registration state for multicast groups, and enables BIER forwarding by translating multicast group information into bitstring formats. This intermediary eliminates the need for other BFRs to maintain multicast topology information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional multicast protocols are used for interconnection, then seamless integration with conventional multicast networks is achieved, but deployment complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the Registration Router pre-register multicast groups and maintain registration state before actual multicast traffic flows. BFERs can immediately join multicast groups by sending join messages to the pre-configured Registration Router without waiting for complex protocol negotiations or topology discoveries, significantly reducing deployment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The Registration Router provides universal functionality by supporting both BIER multicast forwarding and conventional multicast network interconnection through a single architectural component. It handles multiple multicast group registrations, serves multiple BFERs, and enables interconnection with conventional multicast networks without requiring separate protocol implementations across the network.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
This application discloses a multicast forwarding method and an apparatus, so as to help a BFIR obtain information about a BFER included in a multicast group and help implement rapid deployment of a BIER multicast network. A BFER in a BIER network may determine, according to information that is about a multicast group in a multicast receiver list and that is obtained in advance, an IP address of a registration router that supports the multicast group; the BFER generates a BFER registration message according to the information about the multicast group and the IP address of the registration router that supports the multicast group, where the BFER registration message includes the information about the multicast group, a destination IP address of the BFER registration message is the IP address of the registration router, and a source IP address of the BFER registration message is an IP address of the BFER; and the BFER sends the BFER registration message to the registration router. After receiving the BFER registration message sent by the BFER, the registration router in the BIER network may obtain a BFER entry according to the BFER registration message, where the BFER entry includes the information about the multicast group and the IP address of the BFER.