Method and system for fault resilience in networks with audio/video bridging aware shortest path bridging

Abstract

A first network device may select a plurality of network paths for establishing a plurality of network connections to a second network device. The selection may be based on support of IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) protocols. The first network device may establish at least one of the plurality of connections over each of the selected network paths. The first network device may concurrently transmit and/or receive a plurality of data streams via the established plurality of network connections. At least a second one of the plurality of data streams may comprise data that is redundant to a first one of the plurality of data streams. One of the plurality of network connections may be selected for conveying a primary data stream based on determined path costs of the plurality of network paths, where non-AVB links may be assigned higher path costs than AVB link.

1 . A method for networking, the method comprising:
 in a first network device:
 selecting a plurality of network paths for establishing a plurality of network connections to a second network device, wherein said selecting is based on support of IEEE Audio Video Bridging protocols; 
 establishing at least one of said plurality of connections over each of said selected network paths; and 
 concurrently transmitting and/or receiving a plurality of data streams via said established plurality of network connections, wherein at least a second one of said plurality of data streams comprises data that is redundant to a first one of said plurality of data streams. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising conveying a primary one of said plurality of data streams via a first of said plurality of network connections and conveying one or more corresponding redundant data streams via at least a second one of said plurality of network connections. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising selecting one of said plurality of network connections that is to be utilized to convey a primary data stream based on determined path costs of said plurality of network paths. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein links along said plurality of network paths that do not support Audio Video Bridging are assigned a higher path cost than links along said plurality of network paths that do support Audio Video Bridging. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising generating a forwarding table for said plurality of discovered network paths, wherein said generated forwarding table comprises said determined path costs and indicates which of said plurality of discovered network paths is enabled to implement said AVB protocols. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising, upon failure of one or more of said selected network paths, selecting from said table an alternate network path for establishing a new network connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 assigning a first stream identifier to said first of said plurality of data streams; and   assigning an additional unique stream identifier to each of said at least a second of said plurality of data streams that comprises data that is redundant to said first of said plurality of data streams, wherein each of said additional unique stream identifier differs from said first stream identifier.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first stream identifier is carried in a header field of one or more packets of said first of said plurality of data streams. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising buffering and/or processing said plurality of data streams based on said determined path costs. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said plurality of network paths comprises one or more wired links, one or more wireless links, or a combination of one or more wired and wireless links. 
     
     
         11 . A system for networking, the method comprising:
 one or more circuits for use in a first network device, said one or more first circuits being operable to:
 select a plurality of network paths for establishing a plurality of network connections to a second network device, wherein said selecting is based on support of IEEE Audio Video Bridging protocols; 
 establish at least one of said plurality of connections over each of said selected network paths; and 
 concurrently transmit and/or receive a plurality of data streams via said established plurality of network connections, wherein at least a second one of said plurality of data streams comprises data that is redundant to a first one of said plurality of data streams. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to convey a primary one of said plurality of data streams via a first of said plurality of network connections and conveying one or more corresponding redundant data streams via at least a second one of said plurality of network connections. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to select one of said plurality of network connections that is to be utilized to convey a primary data stream based on determined path costs of said plurality of network paths. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein links along said plurality of network paths that do not support Audio Video Bridging are assigned a higher path cost than links along said plurality of network paths that do support Audio Video Bridging. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to generate a forwarding table for said plurality of discovered network paths, wherein said generated forwarding table comprises said determined path costs and indicates which of said plurality of discovered network paths is enabled to implement said AVB protocols. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to, upon failure of one or more of said selected network paths, select from said table an alternate network path for establishing a new network connection. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:
 assign a first stream identifier to said first of said plurality of data streams; and   assign an additional unique stream identifier to each of said at least a second of said plurality of data streams that comprises data that is redundant to said first of said plurality of data streams, wherein each of said additional unique stream identifier differs from said first stream identifier.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said first stream identifier is carried in a header field of one or more packets of said first of said plurality of data streams. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to buffer and/or process said plurality of data streams based on said determined path costs. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein one or more of said plurality of network paths comprises one or more wired links, one or more wireless links, or a combination of one or more wired and wireless links.