Multicast Redundancy in EVPN Networks via Flow Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multicast EVPN technologies lack flexibility in managing multiple flows within a multicast group, assuming all sources deliver the same content, which is not always valid, leading to errors and inadequate support for cases where different subsets of sources belong to different flows.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves control plane extensions and procedures that determine and manage flow identifiers for redundant sources within a multicast group, allowing for the election and re-election of Single Forwarders specific to each multicast flow, using Selective P-Multicast Service Interface (S-PMSI) communications to ensure accurate content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current multicast EVPN technologies are used to manage redundant sources in a multicast group, then content delivery robustness is maintained, but flexibility in managing multiple flows is insufficient and errors occur when different subsets of sources belong to different flows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast group into multiple flows by introducing flow identifiers (flow IDs) that distinguish different content streams. Sources are grouped by flow ID rather than treating all sources uniformly, enabling independent management of multiple flows within the same multicast group while maintaining robustness through redundant sources in each flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different flow identifiers to different subsets of sources based on their content delivery characteristics. Each flow receives tailored management policies and forwarder election procedures, allowing optimized control for each flow's specific requirements while maintaining overall system robustness.
2Device complexity
If all sources are assumed to deliver the same content within a multicast group, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and error detection capability deteriorate when sources actually deliver different content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces flow identifiers as intermediary elements that mediate between source identification and content delivery management. These flow IDs act as intermediate labels that group sources by content without requiring complex analysis of actual content data, providing precise flow identification with minimal added complexity to the management system.
3Ease of operation
If redundant sources are elected as Single Forwarders without flow identification, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates when the elected forwarder belongs to an incorrect flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing flow identifiers and grouping sources into flows before the forwarder election process. This preliminary classification ensures that when forwarders are elected, they are selected from the correct flow group, preventing incorrect content delivery while maintaining straightforward election procedures through standardized criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and associated methods provide a scalable solution for managing multiple multicast flows within a multicast group of a multicast network. The system groups redundant sources of the multicast group according to their associated multicast flows, assigns flow identifiers to each redundant source indicative of their associated multicast flows, and facilitates Single Forwarder election to select a Single Forwarder that belongs to the appropriate multicast flow. The system provides control plane extensions that enable signaling of which redundant source belongs to which multicast flow.