Redundant Multicast Tree for IPTV Network Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IPTV networks face interruptions and inefficiencies due to failures in multicast trees, leading to retransmission storms and potential disruptions in content delivery, especially affecting large customer bases.
Innovation Solution
A proactive redundant multicast tree is established in the IPTV network, with a second set of nodes and components that are redundant to the operating multicast tree, allowing for simultaneous processing of a redundant data stream, which buffers both the operating and redundant data streams to quickly address failures and packet losses without the need for extensive failover procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single multicast tree is used for content delivery, then the network structure is simple and easy to manage, but the system reliability deteriorates due to interruptions from failures and retransmission storms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent proactively establishes a redundant multicast tree before any failure occurs. The redundant tree is built in advance with alternative paths and nodes, so when a failure is detected in the operating multicast tree, the system can immediately switch to the pre-prepared redundant tree without waiting for failure analysis or complex reconfiguration, thus improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through automated failover
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the topological parameter of the multicast tree by creating a second redundant tree with different path configurations compared to the operating tree. This parameter change (having alternative topological paths) allows the system to bypass failed nodes or links by switching to the redundant tree, thereby improving delivery reliability without requiring complex real-time reconfiguration
2Reliability
If failover procedures are implemented upon failure detection, then service continuity is improved, but the response time increases due to protocol updates and tree rebuilding
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant multicast tree is established in advance with all necessary routing information and path configurations pre-computed and ready. When a failure occurs, the system does not need to perform time-consuming protocol updates or wait for PIM-SSM to rebuild the tree, as the redundant tree is already in place and can be activated immediately, thus reducing failover response time while maintaining service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the multicast tree functionality through the redundant tree, which mirrors the operating tree's capability to deliver content but uses alternative physical paths. This copying approach allows immediate failover because the redundant tree is a pre-built duplicate that requires no construction time, only activation, thereby reducing the time loss associated with traditional failover procedures
3Reliability
If redundant nodes and components are added to the multicast tree, then the system reliability improves through backup capabilities, but the device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant multicast tree with its redundant nodes and components is established in advance as a systematic backup structure. This preliminary action organizes the redundancy in a structured manner with clear activation protocols, making the complexity manageable through pre-defined failure scenarios and automated switch-over procedures, while achieving improved system reliability through comprehensive backup coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the multicast tree into operating and redundant functional units, each with specific roles. The redundant tree is segmented as a separate backup system that can be independently managed and activated. This segmentation reduces configuration complexity by creating modular, independently manageable redundant components rather than integrating redundancy into the existing complex structure
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network comprises an operating multicast tree comprising a first set of nodes and components. The first set of nodes and components are operable to process an operating data stream to facilitate delivery of one or more channels to one or more endpoints. The IPTV network further comprises a proactively-established redundant multicast tree comprising a second set of nodes and components. The second set of nodes and components comprises at least one node or at least one component that is redundant of a corresponding node or component in the first set of nodes and components of the operating multicast tree, and that is not in the first set of nodes and components of the operating multicast tree, and are operable to process a redundant data stream. One or more buffers are operable to buffer the operating data stream and the redundant data stream.