Multi-ring IP multicast network and method using autonomous instances of interior gateway protocol (IGP)

摘要

A multi-ring IP multicast network is implemented with “N” instances of an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP). Each IGP instance is autonomously configured on a different ring network to provide service separation between ring networks. Each IGP instance announces the one or more sources that are mapped on the associated ring network. Each source is announced in one and only one IGP instance so that the source is mapped on one and only one ring network. An “N+1” instance of the IGP is implemented on the core routers that are connected to receivers to merge and redistribute the “N” distinct instances of the IGP to the distribution and access routers between the core router and receiver. This effectively merges the N IGP instances at each node so that the multi-ring network appears as a virtual single-ring network with a single IGP instance allowing each of the receivers access to any source connected to the network.