Patent Application
20170041214
The present principles generally relate to network interfacing and more particularly to a method, apparatus and system for implementing a wide area network sensing internet group management protocol proxy.
Modern digital subscriber line (DSL) and fiber optic service (FiOS) home gateway/router devices support multiple WAN interfaces. For example, DSL gateways provide both DSL and gigabit Ethernet (GigE) WAN interfaces to connect to a service provider. Typically only one WAN interface is in use at any one time and the secondary WAN interface remains in standby until the primary interface is lost.
Home gateway/router devices typically provide internet group management protocol (IGMP) Proxy services whereby IGMP requests from LAN attached clients are proxied to the gateway's WAN interface. These requests initiate a downstream flow of multicast traffic (e.g., video, audio, etc.) from multicast routers located at the service provider or in the cloud, which is then forwarded by the gateway to the requesting LAN client.
A problem arises when the gateway's primary WAN interface is lost due to link or equipment failures. In this case the downstream flow of multicast packets to LAN clients is broken, resulting in video/audio disruption. If the home gateway has failed over to the secondary WAN interface then communication will remain disrupted since (1) the upstream multicast routers are not aware of the topology change and (2) the gateway's IGMP Proxy circuit is not aware of the new WAN interface.
Embodiments of the present principles address these and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a method, apparatus and system for implementing a wide area network sensing internet group management protocol proxy for minimizing the audio/video disruption problem that occurs when an access device's primary WAN interface fails over to a secondary interface. In various embodiments of the present principles an access device will alert an IGMP Proxy circuit of the failover and the proxy will examine a multicast routing database to reissue IGMP membership reports (joins) for existing groups on the new WAN interface. Such action results in audio/video reestablishment very shortly after the new WAN interface becomes active.
In one embodiment of the present principles, a method includes receiving a message indicating an activation of an alternate wide area network interface, activated as a result of a failed primary wide area network interface, closing a communication path to the failed wide area network interface, creating a communication path to the alternate wide area network interface using information received in the message and communicating a join request to at least one client using the communication path created to communicate with the alternate wide area network interface.
In an alternate embodiment of the present principles, an apparatus includes a host component in communication with at least a primary and an alternate wide area network via respective network interfaces and a router component in communication with a local area network via a local area network interface for communicating with a client. In such an embodiment, the host component senses an activation of the alternate wide area network interface, activated as a result of a failure of the primary wide area network interface, and communicates a message indicating the activation of the alternate wide area network interface to the router component via a dedicated communication path; the message includes information regarding at least communication parameters of the alternate wide area network interface. In addition, the router component receives the message indicating the activation of the alternate wide area network interface, closes a communication path to the failed wide area network interface, creates a communication path to the alternate wide area network interface using information received in the message, and communicates a join request to the client using the communication path created to communicate with the alternate wide area network interface.
In an alternate embodiment of the present principles, a system includes a primary wide area network, an alternate wide area network, a local area network and an access device. In one embodiment, the access device includes a host component in communication with at least a primary and an alternate wide area network via respective network interfaces and a router component in communication with a local area network via a local area network interface for communicating with a client. In such an embodiment, the host component senses an activation of the alternate wide area network interface, activated as a result of a failure of the primary wide area network interface, and communicates a message indicating the activation of the alternate wide area network interface to the router component via a dedicated communication path; the message includes information regarding at least communication parameters of the alternate wide area network interface. In addition, the router component receives the message indicating the activation of the alternate wide area network interface, closes a communication path to the failed wide area network interface, creates a communication path to the alternate wide area network interface using information received in the message, and communicates a join request to the client using the communication path created to communicate with the alternate wide area network interface.
The teachings of the present principles can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
It should be understood that the drawing(s) are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the various described principles and are not necessarily the only possible configuration for illustrating the principles.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.
Embodiments of the present principles advantageously provide a method, apparatus and system for implementing a wide area network sensing internet group management protocol proxy. Although the present principles will be described primarily within the context of gateways, the specific embodiments of the present principles should not be treated as limiting the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and informed by the teachings of the present principles that the concepts of the present principles can be advantageously applied to any access devices such as routers, set-top boxes, etc.
The functions of the various elements shown in the figures can be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions can be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which can be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term “processor” or “controller” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and can implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (“DSP”) hardware, read-only memory (“ROM”) for storing software, random access memory (“RAM”), and non-volatile storage. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).
Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams presented herein represent conceptual views of illustrative system components and/or circuitry embodying the principles of the invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable media and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
Furthermore, because some of the constituent system components and methods depicted in the accompanying drawings can be implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components or the process function blocks may differ depending upon the manner in which the present principles are programmed. Given the teachings herein, one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present principles.
In the system of
In the system of
Typically, when a primary WAN interface is lost due to link or equipment failures, the downstream flow of multicast packets to LAN clients is broken, resulting in video/audio disruption. If a home access device has failed over to a secondary WAN interface then video will remain disrupted since (1) the upstream multicast routers are not aware of the topology change and (2) the access device's IGMP Proxy circuit is not aware of the secondary WAN interface.
In various embodiments of the present principles, when a primary WAN interface fails over to a secondary WAN interface an access device in accordance with the present principles alerts an IGMP Proxy circuit of the failover, and the IGMP Proxy circuit examines a multicast routing database to reissue IG MP membership reports (joins) for existing groups on the secondary WAN interface. Such functionality results in audio/video reestablishment very shortly after a secondary WAN interface becomes active, which minimizes audio/video disruption during loss of a primary WAN interface due to, for example, line or equipment failures.
As illustrated in the system 100 of
As a result of Step 3, IGMP joins are re-constituted for all currently active groups and are sent upstream thru the new WAN interface. The upstream multicast routers receive the requests and stream the requested content thru the updated network topology. As a result, LAN client audio/video service is quickly resumed.
At step 304, a socket to the failed WAN interface is closed. For example and as described above, in one embodiment of the present principles, a router component of an access device such as the IGMP Router Component 130 of the gateway device 105 previously communicating with the failed WAN interface closes a socket used to communicate with the failed WAN interface. The method 300 can then proceed to step 306.
At step 306, a socket to the alternate WAN interface is created using information from the event message received. For example and as described above, in one embodiment of the present principles, a router component of an access device such as the IGMP Router Component 130 of the gateway device 105 creates a socket to communicate with the alternate WAN interface. The method 300 can then proceed to step 308.
At step 308, a join request is communicated to at least one client using the socket created to communicate with the alternate WAN interface. For example and as described above, in one embodiment of the present principles, for each multicast route table entry in the IGMP Router's database, the IGMP Router Component 130 issues an IGMP membership report (join requests), which are communicated using the new socket created to communicate with the alternate WAN interface. The method 300 can then be exited.
The method 300 can further include optional step 301 which includes communicating an event message indicating the activation of an alternate WAN interface, activated as a result of a failed primary WAN interface, to a router device via a dedicated socket, where the event message includes information regarding at least communication parameters of the alternate WAN interface.
Having described various embodiments of a method, apparatus and system for implementing a wide area network sensing internet group management protocol proxy for minimizing the audio/video disruption problem that occurs when a gateway primary WAN interface fails over to a secondary interface (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments of the principles disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention. While the forgoing is directed to various embodiments of the present principles, other and further embodiments of the invention can be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2015/025303 | 4/10/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61981261 | Apr 2014 | US |
