Patent ID: 6262984
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
In an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network having a plurality of nodes, a method of removing overlapping branches created when a leaf node is added to an already established point to multipoint call whereby a root node calculates a route for the new leaf node utilizing a corrupted point to multipoint view which results in the establishment of one or more overlapping nodes, a node being an overlapping node when it receives ingress streams from two different nodes for the same point to multipoint call, thus creating an overlapping branch between said overlapping node and the adjacent ingress node along the route calculated for said new leaf node, said method comprising the steps of:recognizing that the route calculated by said root node for adding a new leaf node to said point to multipoint call creates one or more overlapping nodes on one or more overlapping branches;establishing a downstream path from the overlapping node to the new leaf node to be added;receiving a confirmation from the new leaf node by one of said one or more overlapping nodes that is closest to the new leaf node;establishing an end point reference path from the overlapping node to the root node over previously established point to multipoint branches, thus creating a new path to the new leaf node that does not create any overlapping nodes; andremoving all overlapping branches from the point to multipoint call.