US6515967B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-30
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Granted: 2003-02-04
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Expires: 2018-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for detecting faults in data packet routing devices in a computer network capable of routing messages using a multicast protocol is described. Faults in devices, such as routers and switches, are detected in near real-time when using a multicast routing infrastructure by configuring a device to be a sender or source of test data packets and one or more other devices to receive test data packets. The test packet sender transmits test data packets to a test group of test packet receivers where the test group has a group identifier. The test receivers prepare data or fault reports describing errors regarding missing or duplicated data packets. These fault reports are prepared soon after the errors are detected and sent back to a multicast routing manager for isolating the device causing the fault. The messages sent to the test devices contain instructions regarding time intervals during which fault reports can be sent to the multicast routing manager from the multiple test receivers.
Inventors
- 👤 Liming Wei
- 👤 Dino Farinacci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1863; H04L12/1868; H04L45/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
In a test monitoring device, a method of detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure, the method comprising: sending a source configuration request for configuring a device in the infrastructure to be a test packet source, the source configuration request containing an identifier identifying the test monitoring device; sending a receiver configuration request for configuring one or more devices in the infrastructure to be test packet receivers where the test packet source sends out test packets to a predetermined group of test packet receivers, the predetermined group having a group identifier; and examining data reports from the test packet receivers relating to a plurality of test packets sent by the test packet source where the data reports are examined shortly after the data reports are provided by the test packet receivers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a test monitoring device, a method of detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure, the method comprising: sending a source configuration request for configuring a device in the infrastructure to be a test packet source, the source configuration request containing an identifier identifying the test monitoring device; sending a receiver configuration request for configuring one or more devices in the infrastructure to be test packet receivers where the test packet source sends out test packets to a predetermined group of test packet receivers, the predetermined group having a group identifier; and examining data reports from the test packet receivers relating to a plurality of test packets sent by the test packet source where the data reports are examined shortly after the data reports are provided by the test packet receivers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 1 further comprising: configuring the test monitoring device in the multicast routing infrastructure to initiate a desired test.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 2 further comprising: sending the data reports to the test monitoring device in a time-dependent manner to avoid overloading the infrastructure with data reports.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 3 wherein sending the data reports to the test monitoring device in a time-dependent manner further comprises: instructing each test packet receiver to transmit data reports to the monitoring device at a preset time interval thereby staggering the transmission and receipt of data reports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 2 further comprising sending a beacon message to the test packet source and to the one or more test packet receivers to inform the test packet source and the one or more test packet receivers that the monitoring device is active.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring reception conditions at the test packet receivers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 1 wherein the receiver configuration request sent to a test packet receiver includes a test group identifier indicating that the test packet receiver belongs to a particular test group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 1 wherein the source configuration request includes a unique identifier used to identify the source configuration request and associate test packets emitted by the test packet source that receives the source configuration request.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 8 wherein the unique identifier is a monotonically increasing sequence number.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 1 wherein a test packet receiver receives test packets from more than one test packet source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a test monitoring device, the method as recited in claim 1 further comprising: determining whether a predetermined number of test packets sent by the test packet source to a test packet receiver was affected while in transit thereby indicating a fault in the multicast routing infrastructure; and creating a data report in response to the fault.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for detecting faults in a multicast routing infrastructure having a plurality of data routing devices, the system comprising: a test monitoring device for propagating test information including test source request packets and test receiver request packets and for collecting fault data; a test packet source device configured to transmit test packets using a multicast protocol; and a plurality of test packet receiving devices configured to receive test packets from the test packet source device and to transmit fault data to the test monitoring device; wherein the test source request packets and the test receiver request packets contain an identifier corresponding to the test monitoring device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for detecting faults in a multicast routing infrastructure having a plurality of data routing devices, the system comprising: a test monitoring device for propagating test information including test source request packets and test receiver request packets and for collecting fault data; a test packet source device configured to transmit test packets using a multicast protocol; and a plurality of test packet receiving devices configured to receive test packets from the test packet source device and to transmit fault data to the test monitoring device; wherein the test source request packets and the test receiver request packets contain an identifier corresponding to the test monitoring device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the test receiver request packets and the test source request packets contain a test group identifier for identifying a group of test packet receiving devices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the test group identifier is an Internet Protocol address.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 12 wherein a test receiver request packet contains data relating to time intervals in which a test packet receiving device transmits fault data to the test monitoring device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 12 wherein a test receiver request packet contains criteria on when a fault in the multicast routing infrastructure has occurred.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 12 wherein the test monitoring device further comprises a fault isolation mechanism enabling the test monitoring device to isolate a faulty device in the multicast routing infrastructure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer program product for detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure using a test monitoring device, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; a computer code stored on the computer readable medium for sending a source configuration request for configuring a device in the infrastructure to be a test packet source, the source configuration request containing an identifier identifying the test monitoring device; a computer code stored on the computer readable medium for sending a receiver configuration request for configuring one or more devices in the infrastructure to be test packet receivers where the test packet source sends out test packets to a predetermined group of test packet receivers, the predetermined group having a group identifier; and a computer code stored on the computer readable medium for examining data reports from the test packet receivers relating to a plurality of test packets sent by the test packet source where the data reports are examined shortly after the data reports are provided by the test packet receivers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer program product for detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure using a test monitoring device, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; a computer code stored on the computer readable medium for sending a source configuration request for configuring a device in the infrastructure to be a test packet source, the source configuration request containing an identifier identifying the test monitoring device; a computer code stored on the computer readable medium for sending a receiver configuration request for configuring one or more devices in the infrastructure to be test packet receivers where the test packet source sends out test packets to a predetermined group of test packet receivers, the predetermined group having a group identifier; and a computer code stored on the computer readable medium for examining data reports from the test packet receivers relating to a plurality of test packets sent by the test packet source where the data reports are examined shortly after the data reports are provided by the test packet receivers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-03 | 2006-08-05 | 2007-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | 2011-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-03 | 2014-08-05 | 2015-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |