Load balancing pseudowire encapsulated iptv channels over aggregated links

Abstract

A method for load balancing IPTV channels is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a first Provider Edge (PE) network element of a label switched network, coupled with a second PE network element over multiple member links of an aggregate link, receives IPTV packets. For each IPTV packet received, the first PE network determines layer 3 information of the IPTV packet, and generates one or more channel load balancing keys based on the layer 3 information. The PE network element generates a hash value from the channel load balancing keys and determines which one of multiple member links to transmit the IPTV packet on based on the hash value, and transmits the IPTV packet to the second PE network element on the determined member link. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method executed by a second network element, the method for load balancing Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channels in a layer 2 label switched network, wherein a first network element of a plurality of network elements in the layer 2 label switched network is coupled with the second network element of the plurality of network elements over a plurality of member links of an aggregate link, wherein the first network element transmits IPTV packets of the IPTV channels over the plurality of member links to the second network element, the second network element acting as a transit network element in the label switched network, wherein the second network element is coupled with a third network element of the plurality of network elements over a plurality of member links of an aggregate link, the second network element to perform the method upon receiving channel load balanced IPTV traffic from the first network element, the method comprising:
 receiving an IPTV packet from the first network element by the second network element;   determining a slot identifier and a port identifier from which the IPTV packet was received on;   generating one or more channel load balancing keys based on the labels included in the IPTV packet and the slot and port identifier;   generating a hash value from the channel load balancing keys;   determining which of the plurality of member links to transmit the IPTV packet on based on the hash value; and   transmitting the IPTV packet to the third network element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each IPTV packet received on a certain slot and port is transmitted on the same member link. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, parsing a label stack to determine a location in the packet of the labels, and storing the location of the labels and the slot and port identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each IPTV packet of a certain IPTV channel is transmitted on the same member link. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining which one of the plurality of member links to transit the IPTV packet on includes using the hash value to lookup the member link in a channel load balancing member link identifier structure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the IPTV packet further includes forwarding the packet to the third network element according to a label stack. 
     
     
         7 . A network element to load balance Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channels across a single link aggregation group of a layer 2 label switched network, wherein the network element is to transmit IPTV packets of the IPTV channels via a pseudowire over a plurality of member links of the single link aggregation group to another network element in the layer 2 label switched network, said network element comprising:
 a non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored therein a channel load balancing module; and   a processor configured to execute the channel load balancing module to receive an IPTV packet, to determine a slot identifier and a port identifier from which the IPTV packet was received on, to generate one or more channel load balancing keys based on the labels included in the IPTV packet and the slot and port identifier, to generate a hash value from the channel load balancing keys, to determine which of the plurality of member links to transmit the IPTV packet on based on the hash value, and transmit the IPTV packet a next network element.   
     
     
         8 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein each IPTV packet received on a certain slot and port is transmitted on the same member link. 
     
     
         9 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module to parse a label stack to determine a location in the packet of the labels, and to store the location of the labels and the slot and port identifier. 
     
     
         10 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module further to determine that each IPTV packet of a certain IPTV channel is transmitted on the same member link. 
     
     
         11 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module to use the hash value to lookup the member link in a channel load balancing member link identifier structure. 
     
     
         12 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module to transmit the IPTV packet by forwarding the packet to the next network element according to a label stack. 
     
     
         13 . The network element of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a label lookup module to receive the IPTV packet over another aggregate link.   
     
     
         14 . The network element of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a multi-protocol labels swapping module to forward the IPTV packet to the next network element.   
     
     
         15 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module includes a label stack pars module to parse the label stack and store label access information in a memory of the network element. 
     
     
         16 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module includes a channel load balancing key generation module and channel load balancing hash module. 
     
     
         17 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module includes a slot and port identifier determination module. 
     
     
         18 . The network element of  claim 7 , wherein the channel load balancing module includes a channel load balancing member link identifier structure.