Hybrid Multicast QoS Tree Construction via Overlay and IP Managers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid multicast solutions lack quality of service (QoS) guarantees both within and across domains, and fail to effectively interconnect IP multicast and Overlay Multicast technologies, leading to suboptimal network performance in one-to-many communications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for constructing quality of service aware hybrid multicast trees by initiating a hybrid tree construction process that involves sending multicast service level specifications to overlay and IP managers, computing shortest path trees using constrained algorithms like Dijkstra, and enforcing QoS on routers to ensure efficient and reliable content delivery across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hybrid multicast solutions are used to interconnect IP multicast and Overlay Multicast, then basic multicast functionality is achieved, but quality of service guarantees are lost both within and across domains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast tree construction into two distinct parts: an overlay tree constructed at the application layer for flexibility and QoS management, and an IP multicast tree constructed at the network layer for efficient content delivery. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize for its specific function while maintaining QoS guarantees across the hybrid architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the overlay tree is constructed within the hybrid multicast architecture, and the IP multicast tree is nested within the overlay tree structure. The overlay tree managers and IP managers work in concert, with the overlay layer providing QoS control and the IP layer providing efficient transport, creating a nested hierarchical system that maintains QoS guarantees.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Overlay Multicast is used to move multicast management to the application layer, then flexibility in tree construction is improved, but lack of QoS support and inter-domain issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of Overlay Multicast (flexibility and application-layer control) with the QoS capabilities of IP multicast. The hybrid architecture combines overlay tree construction for adaptability with IP multicast tree installation for QoS enforcement, creating a unified system that achieves both flexibility and reliable QoS support across domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces overlay tree managers and IP managers as intermediary components that coordinate between the application layer and network layer. These managers act as mediators that translate QoS requirements from the overlay layer into concrete IP multicast tree constructions, ensuring QoS support is maintained while preserving overlay flexibility.
3Productivity
If IP multicast is used for one-to-many communications, then efficient content delivery is achieved, but group management limitations and lack of QoS support occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary QoS planning and overlay tree construction before installing the IP multicast tree. The overlay tree managers compute the desired tree structure and QoS requirements in advance, then pass these specifications to the IP managers for implementation. This preliminary action ensures QoS is built into the system architecture rather than added afterward, maintaining both efficiency and QoS support.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer readable media for quality of service aware hybrid multicast networks are described. A method can include receiving a request for content from a first receiver and initiating a quality of service aware hybrid tree construction by sending a multicast service level specification message to a first overlay tree manager. The method can also include dividing the tree at the overlay tree manager and communicating with other overlay tree managers in the network. The method can further include computing, at each overlay tree manager, a shortest path tree using a constrained algorithm and sending, from each overlay tree manager, a message to each IP manager in the network requesting that the IP managers construct an IP multicast tree and install the tree on one or more corresponding routers. The method can also include enforcing multicast routes and quality of service on the one or more routers.