Autonomous client discovery in backbone edge bridges for multipoint PBB-TE networks

This paper discuss how to complement provider backbone bridge - traffic engineering (PBB-TE) networks with multipoint connections to implement a deterministic and simple-to-use multipoint network. We propose the learning and multicasting mechanisms for unknown destination and source addresses of clients, while the connection-oriented property or determinism of PBB-TE networks is maintained. Predetermined Ethernet switched paths created by the B-components of IB type BEBs (IB-BEBs) are only used for delivering multicast frames to other IB-BEBs in the multipoint PBB-TE networks. The ingress I-components of IB-BEBs take charge of learning and multicasting for unknown destination client addresses. The egress I-components of IB-BEBs take charge of learning and multicasting for unknown source client addresses. Since provider instance ports (PIPs) of the I-component are internally connected with customer backbone ports (CBPs) of the B-component, the frames of unknown destination address flooded at PIPs are encapsulated by B-TAG in the B-component and deliver to other IB-BEBs through predetermined Ethernet switched paths (ESPs).