Patent ID: 10182007

Abstract:
The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) receiving, at an upstream router of a multicast distribution tree, a packet that is destined for a receiver within an MPLS network, (2) identifying within the packet (A) a context label that specifies a controller and (B) a tree label that is assigned by the controller, (3) identifying a forwarding table that corresponds to the context label identified within the packet, (4) searching the forwarding table that corresponds to the context label for the tree label that specifies the multicast distribution tree, (5) identifying, based at least in part on the search, a downstream router of the multicast distribution tree that is to receive the packet on the way to the receiver, and then (6) forwarding the packet to the downstream router of the multicast distribution tree on the way to the receiver. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.