Patent ID: 9509590
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A computer implemented method of minimizing packet loss of multicast traffic stream when a failure occurs in a network including a multicast edge network element, wherein the multicast edge network element is coupled with a first and second multicast core network element each capable of forwarding packets of an equivalent multicast traffic stream to the multicast edge network element and each is situated between a source of the multicast traffic stream and the multicast edge network element, the method comprising: separately joining an equivalent multicast traffic stream through a first and a second path between the multicast edge network element and the first and second multicast core network element respectively, wherein separately joining the equivalent multicast traffic stream includes: processing the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream received through the first path from the first multicast core network element, and while those packets are received uninterrupted through the first path, discarding the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream received through the second path from the second multicast core network element; and upon detection of a failure in the first path, transitioning to processing the packets of the equivalent multicast traffic stream subsequently being received through the second path from the second multicast core network element.