WO2008017226A1

WO2008017226A1 - Multicast control system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2008017226A1
Application number: PCT/CN2007/001768
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weilong Ouyang; Xiaoyu Gong; Min Zha; Zhenting Yang
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-08-04
Filing date: 2007-06-04
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Also published as: CN101119578A; CN101119578B

Abstract

A multicast control system includes: Access Node and Access Node Edge of the Access Network, and also includes: User Management Subsystem, Policy Control Subsystem and Link Management Subsystem; the User Management Subsystem is used for managing the user attribute and transmitting the user attribute to the Policy Control Subsystem; the Policy Control Subsystem respectively exchanges messages with the Access Node, the Access Node Edge and the Link Management Subsystem, for resource admission control according to the user attribute; the Link Management Subsystem respectively exchanges messages with the Access Node and the Access Node Edge, formanaging the link and the resource of the user among every network unit in the Access Network. A multicast control method is also provided. The control of the multicast access can be realized in the TISPAN.

Description

Multicast control system and method

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 20061006202, filed on Aug. 4, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of network technologies, and in particular, to a multicast control system and method.

Background technique

With the continuous development of access technologies, users can use more and more bandwidth, and the access network needs to provide more transmission capabilities. How to maximize the utilization of access network resources enables providers to obtain larger Benefit, this is the mission of operators to the next generation access network. Dynamic QoS mechanisms such as bandwidth-on-demand, application- and session-based QoS (Quality of Service) control are powerful means to improve access network resource utilization. To this end, TISPAN (Telecommunications and Internet converged Services and Protocols) The Forum for for Advanced Networking, Telecom and Internet Convergence Services and Advanced Network Protocols has proposed its own dynamic QoS solution.

The QoS control architecture of TISPAN (Telecom & Internet converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Network, Telecommunications and Internet Convergence Services and Advanced Network 10) is shown in Figure 1. In the service layer (the application function (AF, Application Function) entity) and transmission A transport control layer is added between the Transport Layers, namely RACS (Resource Admission Control Subsystem), SPDF (Service Policy Decision Function) 11 and A-RACF (Access- The resource admission control function is composed of 12, and the service layer requests the user to use the resource and control policy of the service through the Gq, and the RACS sends the resource request and control policy to the corresponding IP Edge (IP). Edge 13 and Border Node 14 perform resource allocation and policy execution.

In this architecture, an AN (Access Node) 15 is an edge access node of the access network; IP Edgel3 is an edge node of the access network and is connected to the IP transport network; NASS (Network Attach Subsystem) System) 16 is the network connection management subsystem. It only has data and control interfaces with IP Edgel3. It is responsible for the authentication, authorization and address allocation of users on the access network, and notifies the attributes and IP addresses of RACS users through the e4 interface. However, TISPAN's QoS control architecture has not yet controlled user multicast access. Summary of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a multicast control system and method for implementing control of multicast access in TISPAN. ·

A multicast control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes: an access node and an access termination point, and further includes: a user management subsystem, a policy control subsystem, and a link management subsystem;

The user management subsystem is configured to manage user attributes, and push the user attributes to the policy control subsystem;

The policy control subsystem performs message interaction with the access node, the access termination point, and the link management subsystem, respectively, for performing resource admission control according to the user attribute;

The link management subsystem performs message exchange with the access node and the access terminal to manage links and resources between users in the access network.

The embodiment of the invention further provides a multicast control method, including:

The policy control subsystem assigns different multicast trees to different Internet service providers and notifies the link management subsystem to establish a multicast tree between the access nodes and the access endpoints;

The link management subsystem allocates resources for the multicast tree;

After receiving the multicast access message of the user, the access node forwards the multicast access request to the access termination point by using a multicast tree specified by the user in the multicast access message;

The access endpoint pushes multicast service data to the user through the multicast tree specified by the user.

The embodiment of the present invention can be established by introducing a control architecture consisting of a User Management Subsystem (UMS), a Policy Control Subsystem (PCS), and a Link Management System (LMS). And maintain a multicast tree assigned to different ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to achieve differential control of multicast.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing QoS control architecture.

2 is a structural diagram of a multicast control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart of a multicast control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of multicast service access in a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment of the present invention introduces a new management entity (i.e., LMS) and management architecture in the existing TISPA, and the architecture includes the following parts:

UMS responsible for user access network authentication and management of user attributes; resource admission control based on user attributes, and PCS indirectly or directly interacting with service layer application function entities; and management of links between network elements in the access network Road and resource LMS. The PCS and the LMS respectively have an interface for communicating with an AN, an ANE (Access Node Edge), and the PCS also has an interface for communicating with the LMS and the UMS, respectively, and the UMS has an interface for communicating with the ANE.

In order to provide multicast services to users under multiple ISPs, the system may further include: an ASP (Application Service Provider) or a CSP (Content Service Provider) that provides multicast services such as IPTV, and provides access. NSP (Network Service Provider) for IP network services, edge access devices that connect AN and AE as users and NSP/ASP, and NAP (Network) that manages connectivity and resources between AN and ANE (Network) Access Provider, network access operator). Among them, NAP is connected to ASP/CSP and NSP through A E.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the networking structure of a multicast control system according to an embodiment of the present invention:

CE (Customer Equipment, User Equipment) 21 accesses the network side edge node ANE23 of the NAP20 through the user side edge node AN22 of the NAP20. The AN22 can access multiple different A Es, and the A E23 can also access multiple different ANs. ANE23 is the end interface of ASP24 or CSP25 and access network, and is the last interface of NSP26 and access network. NAP20 provides an access network for connecting users and NSP/ASP by AN and ANE, and manages connectivity and resources between AN and ANE. ASP24 or CSP25 provides multicast services such as IPTV (interactive TV) and is responsible for authentication, authorization, etc. for access users;

The NSP26 provides services for accessing the IP network and is responsible for user authentication, address assignment, and authorization. In the case of such networking, in the multicast control system of the embodiment of the present invention

The UMS 201 is responsible for the authentication, authorization, accounting, and management of user attributes of the user access network, such as authentication information with the provider;

The PCS 202 performs resource admission control according to user attributes, executes policies, or deploys policies to access. The node AN22 and the network device accessing the endpoint ANE23 may interact with the AF200 indirectly or directly; the LMS 203 manages the links and resources between the network elements of the user in the access network.

Among them, PCS202 and LMS203 have interfaces for communication with AN22 and A23, respectively. PCS202 also has interfaces for communicating with LMS203 and UMS201 respectively. UMS201 has an interface for communication with ANE23.

The process of multicast control will be described in detail below based on the system of the embodiment of the present invention described above.

Network initial settings for user multicast services:

(1) The user accesses the network such as the NSP or the ASP/CSP through the CE. After the network such as the NSP or the ASP/CSP authenticates the user, the UMS obtains the attribute of the user from the authentication server in the network, and Push the user attribute to the PCS, which includes the multicast service attributes (such as the ISP operator ID, the number of channels, the authorized multicast group address table, the charging method and the rate, and the bandwidth) that are contracted with the service provider such as the ISP. Its business level, etc.), user IP address, etc.;

(2) The PCS allocates different multicast trees for different ISPs, different billing and rates, different bandwidth requirements or different levels according to attributes such as the user's multicast service (for example, a multicast MAC and an exclusive VLAN structure may be used). Multicast tree) and construct a multicast tree identifier (MCT-ID, Multicast Tree Identify) according to the multicast service attribute, and notify the LMS to establish a multicast tree between the AN and the ANE and the root or source of the multicast tree;

(3) The LMS negotiates or assigns link information (such as P-VLAN+P-MAC (provider VLAN+carrier MAC) or MPLS label) to access network devices such as AN and ANE, to AN, ANE, and both. The inter-network device sends an instruction, and sets parameters required for the AN, ANE to establish a multicast tree, the root or source of the multicast tree, and the like;

(4) The PCS sets a multicast service information table including the attribute of the user IP and the index of the multicast tree identifier to the AN and the ANE according to the attribute of the user's IP and the multicast tree identifier (for example, the service level, the authorized multicast group address table) And the associated table (ie, the multicast service information table corresponding to the access link); thereafter, the AN and the ANE can find the corresponding multicast tree identifier through information such as the user IP and the multicast group, and vice versa; As long as the user IP and the multicast group and the user access link and the multicast tree identifier establish a one-to-one relationship, a two-way lookup can be implemented;

(5) When the user adjusts the service attributes of the user and the network such as NSP or ASP through the portal or the like, the UMS pushes the changed attribute to the PCS; (6) PCS updates the user's multicast tree and control strategy between AN and ANE, the same steps (2) ~

(3).

The process of users logging into the multicast service:

(1) The user logs in to a network such as ASP/CSP to obtain corresponding parameters of the multicast service, such as a program list and a multicast group address table thereof;

(2) The network such as ASP/CSP notifies the AF of the multicast address table corresponding to the program list and the parameters such as ISP, charging parameters and bandwidth, and the AF notifies the PCS to apply for the network resource;

(3) The PCS according to the multicast service attribute signed by the user (the UMS notifies the PCS of the user attribute including the multicast service attribute subscribed by the user after the user authentication is passed) to check whether the user can access, and if so, according to the ISP, charging The parameters and bandwidths are obtained by the multicast tree identifier, and then the user's control policies in the AN and ANE are set according to the multicast tree identifier (eg, authorization information, charging, priority, bandwidth, etc.) (if the multicast tree has not been established in the above process) , then according to the network initialization steps (2) ~ (4) to set the multicast tree);

(4) The PCS determines the resources of the multicast tree according to the attributes of the user (such as the user IP address, etc.) and the multicast service information table (such as the service level, the address table authorized by the multicast group, the bandwidth, and the rights) requested by the AF. Assign a policy, notify the LMS to allocate resources; for example, adopt the following resource allocation strategy:

i. When the number of users is smaller than the number of channels subscribed by the service provider, each user is allocated the bandwidth of the number of user-signed channels and can be shared to all users under the same multicast tree;

Ii. When the number of users is greater than the number of channels subscribed by the service provider, each user is allocated a bandwidth of the number of channels subscribed to the service operator.

(5) The LMS performs resource check, and when the network resource has available resources, allocates resources to the multicast tree according to the resource allocation policy, and notifies the PCS resource to reserve and accept;

(6) PCS responds to AF network resource admission;

(7) AF response ASP/CSP and other network user services can be connected, after which the user login is successful;

(8) When the network such as ASP/CSP is accessed by the user, the network parameters such as ASP/CSP need to adjust the service parameters of the users that have been accessed through AF.

(9) The PCS updates the user attributes and updates the multicast tree and control policies set in the AN and ANE according to steps (2) ~ (4). User multicast service access process:

(1) The user initiates a multicast access message, such as an IGMP (Internet Group Message Protocol) message; the multicast group address to which the multicast access message packet is to be accessed, and may also include a multicast source. Information such as the IP address;

(2) A performs the following processing according to the information such as the IP address of the user and the multicast address of the access message: According to the control policy set on the AN, it is checked whether it can access the multicast group that the user needs to access, if it can be allowed to connect If yes, the corresponding multicast tree identifier is obtained according to the multicast group that the user wants to join; according to the configured control policy, it is checked whether the required resource has been allocated for the multicast tree, and if so, the resource is accepted and the data is collected. The broadcast tree identifier updates the multicast access message, adds the multicast layer Layer 2 information, and forwards the information to the ANE to apply for access to the multicast service;

If the user is not allowed to access, the user multicast forwarding message is denied to be forwarded to the ANE;

(3) a network device between the AN and the ANE located in the access aggregation network of the multicast tree, finding a multicast tree identifier according to the link information of the multicast tree, and then establishing according to the multicast group address in the multicast access message Copy the tree, check whether it needs to allocate its required resources, and if so, allow access to the multicast group and establish a multicast replication table, update and forward the user's multicast access message until ANE;

(4) After checking the access rights and resources of the user, the ANE applies for accessing the multicast service to the multicast source; if the user is not allowed to access, the ANE refuses to apply for the multicast service to the multicast source;

(5) After the application is successful, the ANE pushes the multicast service data to the user through the multicast tree specified by the user requesting the service, and the ANE and the AN can report the resource reservation status to the LMS, and the LMS checks according to the status of the report or Update the occupation of network resources;

(6) The network device between the AN and the ANE and the AN extract the multicast group address from the multicast service data stream, perform the temple copy copy according to the multicast copy table, and forward it to the downstream device or user through the multicast tree;

(7) If there is an error in any part of the process, it must respond to AN. Then, if there is an error, the AN allows the message to be constructed or specified according to the error information to be added to the multicast stream it receives, and the multicast will be added. The address of the stream is translated into the multicast group address that the user requests to join, and then the multicast stream is forwarded to the user, so that the user knows the specific reason for the failure. When the network is initialized or the user logs in to the service network, the multicast group address that the user requests to join can be set to the AN by the PCS.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a flow of a multicast control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, including the following steps: Step 301: The user accesses an ASP/CSP network.

Step 302: The UMS pushes the user attribute to the PCS, where the user attribute includes a multicast service attribute (such as an ISP carrier identifier, a channel number, an authorized multicast group address table, a charging method, and a fee) signed by a service carrier such as an ISP. Rate, bandwidth and its service level, etc.);

Step 303: The PCS allocates different multicast trees to different ISPs (or different charging rates and rates, or different bandwidth requirements or different levels), and notifies the LMS to establish a multicast tree between AN and A E;

Step 304: The LMS accepts the PCS instruction, and establishes a multicast tree between AN and A E;

The LMS may send an instruction to the network device between the AN, the ANE, and the two in a negotiated manner or an allocation manner, and set parameters such as an AN, an ANE to establish a multicast tree, a root or a source of the multicast tree, and the like; Step 305, PCS Setting a control policy of the user between the AN and the UI, and determining a resource allocation policy of the multicast tree;

Step 306: The LMS accepts a PCS instruction to allocate resources for the multicast tree.

Step 307: The user initiates a multicast access message.

Step 308: The ANE applies for accessing the multicast service to the multicast source.

Step 309: The ANE pushes the multicast service to the user.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows a flow of multicast service access in an embodiment of the present invention, including the following steps:

1. The user sends a multicast access request to the AN;

2. The AN checks the user's multicast rights according to the control policy of the PCS configuration; the result of the check is that access is allowed;

3. The AN forwards the user's multicast access request to the A E according to the corresponding multicast tree;

4. A E checks the user's multicast rights according to the control policy configured by the PCS; the result of the check is that access is allowed;

5. The ANE forwards the multicast access request to the multicast source;

6. After receiving the request, the multicast source sends a multicast message to the ANE;

7. A E copies the multicast message and forwards it to the AN;

8. The AN forwards the multicast message to the user.

In the above process, if there is an error in any link, an error message can be constructed and sent to the AN to let the AN know the cause of the error. For example, steps 9 to 10 in the figure: 9. The ANE sends a multicast access failure message to the AN, and the message can be added to the multicast stream sent to the AN and sent to the AN;

10. The AN translates the destination address of the multicast stream into the multicast group address that the user requests to join, and sends it to the user, that is, sends the multicast stream containing the error code to the user.

It can be seen that the embodiment of the present invention can establish and maintain a multicast tree allocated for different ISPs by introducing a control structure composed of a user management subsystem, a policy control subsystem, and a link management subsystem, and implement multicast connection in TISPAN. Into the differential control.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be modified or equivalently substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Rights request

A multicast control system, comprising an access node and an access termination point, further comprising: a user management subsystem, a policy control subsystem, and a link management subsystem;

2. The multicast control system according to claim 1, wherein the user attribute comprises a multicast service attribute that the user subscribes to a service operator.

3. The multicast control system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the resource admission control by the policy control subsystem according to the user attribute comprises: allocating different, pushing multiples for different Internet service providers. The multicast tree required for the traffic data is broadcast, and the link management subsystem is notified to establish a multicast tree between the access node and the access endpoint.

The multicast control system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: using the access node and an access termination as edge access devices connected to a user and an application or a content provider. And a network access operator device that manages connectivity and resources between the access node and the access terminal, the network access operator device accessing the endpoint and the application or content provider device, the network provider The equipment is connected.

5. The multicast control system according to claim 1, wherein:

The policy control subsystem directly or indirectly interacts with the service layer application function entity, receives a network resource application notification of the service layer application function entity, and responds to the service layer application function entity with the network resource acceptance.

6. A multicast control method, comprising:

The link management subsystem allocates resources for the multicast tree;

After the access node receives the multicast access message of the user, using the multicast access message Forwarding the multicast access request to the access termination point by the user-specified multicast tree;

The multicast control method according to claim 6, wherein before the assigning different multicast trees to different Internet service providers, the method further comprises:

When the user accesses the network provider network or the application or content provider network, the user management subsystem pushes the user attributes to the policy control subsystem, the user attributes including the user multicast service attributes.

The multicast control method according to claim 7, wherein the step of allocating different multicast trees for different Internet service providers comprises:

The policy control subsystem assigns different multicast trees to different Internet service providers based on the user multicast service attributes.

The multicast control method according to claim 7, wherein the step of establishing a multicast tree between the access node and the access termination point comprises:

The policy control subsystem constructs a multicast tree identifier according to the user multicast service attribute, and notifies the link management subsystem to establish a multicast tree between the access node and the access termination point and a root of the multicast tree thereof Or source;

The link management subsystem negotiates or allocates link information with the access node, the access termination point, and sends an instruction to the access node and the access termination point to establish a multicast tree, where the instruction includes a multicast tree. Root or source parameters;

The policy control subsystem sets a multicast service information table and its associated table to the access node and the access endpoint according to the multicast tree identifier.

10. The multicast control method according to claim </ RTI>, wherein the method further comprises: if the user and the access network's service attributes are adjusted, the user management subsystem pushes the changed attribute to the Policy control subsystem;

The policy control subsystem updates the multicast tree between the access node and the access endpoint.

The multicast control method according to claim 9, wherein the step of allocating resources for the multicast tree comprises:

When the user logs in to the multicast service, the application or content provider network passes the corresponding parameters of the multicast service. Knowing that the service layer applies the functional entity, and the service layer application function entity notifies the policy control subsystem to apply for the network resource;

Determining, by the policy control subsystem, a resource allocation policy of the multicast tree according to the user attribute and the multicast service information table, and notifying the link management subsystem to allocate resources;

The link management subsystem allocates resources for the multicast tree.

The multicast control method according to claim 11, wherein the resource allocation policy comprises:

When the number of users is smaller than the number of channels subscribed by the service provider, the bandwidth of the number of user subscription channels is allocated to each user and can be shared to all users under the same multicast tree;

When the number of users is greater than the number of channels subscribed by the service provider, each user is allocated a bandwidth of the number of channels subscribed to the service provider.

The multicast control method according to claim 6, wherein the step of the access node forwarding the multicast access request to the access termination point by using the resource includes:

The access node checks whether the access group can access the multicast group requested by the user according to the multicast access message, and if yes, allows access and obtains a corresponding multicast tree identifier;

The access node checks whether resources have been allocated for the multicast group, and if so, forwards the multicast access message to the access endpoint by using the resource;

And the network device of the access aggregation network of the multicast tree between the access node and the access termination point obtains a multicast tree identifier according to the link information of the multicast tree, and then according to the multicast connection The multicast group address in the incoming message establishes a replication tree, checks whether resources have been allocated for the multicast tree, and if so, allows access to the multicast group and establishes a multicast replication table, and updates and forwards the user's multicast access message. Until the access endpoint.

The multicast control method according to claim 6, wherein the step of the access terminal to push the multicast service data to the user through the multicast tree specified by the user requesting the service comprises:

The access terminal applies for accessing the multicast service to the multicast source;

After the application is successful, the access terminal pushes the multicast service data to the user through the multicast tree specified by the user requesting the service.

The multicast control method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises: The access termination point and the access node report a resource reserved usage status to the link management subsystem;

The link management subsystem checks or updates the network resource occupancy according to the reported status.

16. The multicast control method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises: if the error needs to respond to the access node, the access node allows multicast to be received thereto A message constructed or specified according to the error information is added to the stream, and the destination address of the multicast stream is converted into a multicast group address that the user requests to join, and the multicast stream is forwarded to the user.