Patent ID: 8824276
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method performed by a network node in a multicast communication network, the multicast communication network including a multicast tree to provide connectivity from a common source node to one or more multicast recipient nodes, the multicast communication network further including a set of secondary paths to provide redundancy to the multicast tree, the method comprising the steps of: detecting by the network node a loss of connection at an incoming interface to an upstream neighbor; determining that the network node cannot re-route the multicast data traffic to allow the multicast data traffic to reach the multicast recipient nodes; sending a downstream fast notification packet (DFNP) from the network node downstream towards the multicast recipient nodes, wherein the DFNP causes a downstream merge node to switch reception of the multicast data traffic to a secondary path that leads to the common source node; receiving an upstream fast notification packet (UFNP) from the downstream merge node by the network node; and modifying forwarding information of the network node upon receipt of the UFNP such that the multicast data traffic is to be received by the network node from a downstream neighbor of the network node via which the UFNP was received, wherein the DFNP and the UFNP cause the multicast data traffic to reverse a direction of flow between the network node and the downstream merge node to thereby re-route the multicast data traffic.