Multicast Packet Encapsulation to Reduce Cross-Subnet Replication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The replication of multicast packets in network transmission leads to excessive occupation of network resources, as each packet is duplicated for multiple destinations, causing resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method where multicast packets are replicated based on the number of destination subnets, with outer encapsulation added to each packet containing the destination address, reducing the number of packets in the network by determining addresses of destination subnets and adding specific path information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If each multicast packet is replicated into N multicast packets for transmission to different destination subnets, then the multicast packets can reach all destination subnets, but a large quantity of network resources are occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple multicast packet transmissions into a single packet by adding outer encapsulation. Instead of replicating the original multicast packet N times for N destination subnets, the patent creates one multicast packet with outer encapsulation containing multiple destination addresses, thereby reducing the number of packets in the network while still delivering data to all intended destinations
Solution Approach 2:
The outer encapsulation structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it carries the original multicast packet, includes outer destination addresses for multiple destination subnets, and enables single-packet delivery to multiple destinations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate packet replicas for each destination subnet
2Quantity of substance
If multicast packets are replicated in the BFIR for each destination subnet, then all destination subnets can receive the multicast packets, but the complexity of packet handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by adding outer encapsulation with multiple destination addresses at the source before packets enter the network. This pre-configured encapsulation structure eliminates the need for complex replication operations at intermediate devices like BFIR, as the packet is already prepared to reach multiple destinations simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The outer encapsulation acts as an intermediary structure that simplifies packet handling. Instead of requiring complex replication logic at BFIR devices, the encapsulated packet with multiple destination addresses can be handled more simply by network devices, reducing the complexity of packet processing while ensuring delivery to all destination subnets
Data Source
Figure 1-a~1-b
Figure 1-c~1-d
Figure 2-a-1
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a method, a device, and a system for transmitting a multicast packet, and pertains to the field of electronic technologies. The method includes: when a device that is in a source subnet and that is connected to a core network receives a multicast packet of a target multicast group, determining addresses of devices that are in a plurality of destination subnets corresponding to the target multicast group and that are connected to the core network, replicating the multicast packet, to obtain a plurality of multicast packets whose quantity is equal to a quantity of the plurality of destination subnets, separately adding outer encapsulation to each multicast packet, and forwarding the multicast packet to which the outer encapsulation is added, where a destination address in the outer encapsulation is an address of a device that is in each destination subnet and that is connected to the core network. According to this disclosure, a quantity of multicast packets in a data transmission network can be greatly reduced, and occupation of network resources can be reduced.