Methods and network devices are disclosed for traversal, within a network configured for bit indexed forwarding, of a subnetwork having nodes not configured for bit indexed forwarding. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a first network node not configured for bit indexed forwarding, a data message comprising a local label and a message bit array. Bit values in the message bit array identify intended destination nodes for the message. The embodiment further includes modifying the message bit array to exclude as intended destination nodes for the message any nodes not represented by one or more relative bit positions associated with the local label and stored in an ingress filter data structure. In addition, the embodiment includes forwarding a copy of the data message to a second network node, which is configured for bit indexed forwarding, identified in an accessed entry of a bit indexed forwarding table.

Bridging of non-capable subnetworks in bit indexed explicit replication

Methods and network devices are disclosed for multicast traffic steering in a communications network. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a first tree connecting a source node for a multicast flow through a communications network to each of multiple destination nodes for the multicast flow. The communications network is configured to forward a multicast message based on bit values in a message bit array carried by the message, and the first tree comprises a first set of unicast paths from the source node to the destination nodes. The method further includes allocating a first tree identifier to the first tree and communicating the first tree identifier and associated forwarding information to each of multiple forwarding nodes within the communications network. An embodiment of a network device includes a processor operably coupled to one or more network interfaces and adapted to perform steps of the method.

Multicast traffic steering using tree identity in bit indexed explicit replication (bier)

Methods and network devices are disclosed for replication and switching of Internet Protocol (IP) packets in professional media networks In one embodiment, a method includes encapsulating a unicast IP packet with a packet bit array and forwarding the encapsulated packet via a replication fabric within a network In this embodiment, each receiver of a plurality of receivers reachable via the replication fabric is represented by a relative bit position in the packet bit array, a respective IP address is assigned to each receiver of the plurality of receivers, and the replication fabric is adapted to store disposition information mapping a relative bit position representing one or more of the plurality of receivers to IP addresses assigned to the one or more of the plurality of receivers An embodiment of a network device includes a processor operably coupled to a network interface and adapted to perform steps of the method

Unicast media replication fabric using bit indexed explicit replication

The present invention relates to an environmentally robust critical infrastructure security framework for network use in high demand or mission critical environments and applications, including but not limited to power stations, sub-stations, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), rail, traffic control systems, chemical, oil & gas, critical manufacturing, and industrial applications is disclosed (e.g. complaint to most advanced industrial and military applications). The present invention provides a simple yet effective method suitable for critical infrastructure operations, their systems and protocol requirements. The framework includes role based access control (RBAC) down to each intelligent electronic device (IED), programmable logic controller (PLC), etc. regardless of the type of the device and without the need to have support at the IED level for specific requirements.

Critical infrastructure security framework

Methods and network devices are disclosed for internet protocol (IP) based encapsulation in bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) forwarding. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a multicast message comprising an inner IP header, an intervening header, and an outer IP header. The embodiment further includes accessing a message bit array stored in the intervening header, retrieving an IP address from an entry in a bit indexed forwarding table, replacing an IP destination address in the outer IP header of a copy of the multicast message with the retrieved IP address, and sending the copy of the multicast message toward a second node in the network, where the retrieved IP address is assigned to the second node. An embodiment of a network device includes a processor operably coupled to a plurality of storage locations and to one or more network interfaces and adapted to perform steps of the method.

Internet protocol based encapsulation for bit indexed explicit replication (bier)

The present disclosure generally discloses multicast communication support capabilities configured to support multicast communications of a multicast group using a multicast tree. The multicast communication support capabilities may include a unicast branching based multicast capability. The unicast branching based multicast capability may be configured to support determination and establishment of, as well as communication via, a multicast tree that is composed of unicast branches. The unicast branching based multicast capability may be configured to preserve the multicast information of multicast transmissions transported via the multicast tree even though the multicast transmissions are transported via unicast branches of the multicast tree. The unicast branching based multicast capability may be configured to preserve the multicast information of multicast transmissions transported via unicast branches of the multicast tree based on encoding of the multicast information within the packets of the multicast transmission being transported via the unicast branches of the multicast tree.

Wilfong Gordon

Papers

Unicast branching based multicast