Address Resolution Mechanisms for IP Datagrams over MPEG-2 Networks
RFC 4947

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Network Working Group                                       G. Fairhurst
Request for Comments: 4947                        University of Aberdeen
Category: Informational                                  M.-J. Montpetit
                                       Motorola Connected Home Solutions
                                                               July 2007

  Address Resolution Mechanisms for IP Datagrams over MPEG-2 Networks

Status of This Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2007).

Abstract

   This document describes the process of binding/associating IPv4/IPv6
   addresses with MPEG-2 Transport Streams (TS).  This procedure is
   known as Address Resolution (AR) or Neighbor Discovery (ND).  Such
   address resolution complements the higher-layer resource discovery
   tools that are used to advertise IP sessions.

   In MPEG-2 Networks, an IP address must be associated with a Packet ID
   (PID) value and a specific Transmission Multiplex.  This document
   reviews current methods appropriate to a range of technologies (such
   as DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting), ATSC (Advanced Television
   Systems Committee), DOCSIS (Data-Over-Cable Service Interface
   Specifications), and variants).  It also describes the interaction
   with well-known protocols for address management including DHCP, ARP,
   and the ND protocol.

Fairhurst & Montpetit        Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 4947       AR Mechanisms for IP over MPEG-2 Networks       July 2007

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Bridging and Routing .......................................4
   2. Conventions Used in This Document ...............................7
   3. Address Resolution Requirements ................................10
      3.1. Unicast Support ...........................................12
      3.2. Multicast Support .........................................12
   4. MPEG-2 Address Resolution ......................................14
      4.1. Static Configuration ......................................15
           4.1.1. MPEG-2 Cable Networks ..............................15
      4.2. MPEG-2 Table-Based Address Resolution .....................16
           4.2.1. IP/MAC Notification Table (INT) and Its Usage ......17
           4.2.2. Multicast Mapping Table (MMT) and Its Usage ........18
           4.2.3. Application Information Table (AIT) and Its Usage ..18
           4.2.4. Address Resolution in ATSC .........................19
           4.2.5. Comparison of SI/PSI Table Approaches ..............19
      4.3. IP-Based Address Resolution for TS Logical Channels .......19
   5. Mapping IP Addresses to MAC/NPA Addresses ......................21
      5.1. Unidirectional Links Supporting Unidirectional
           Connectivity ..............................................22
      5.2. Unidirectional Links with Bidirectional Connectivity ......23
      5.3. Bidirectional Links .......................................25
      5.4. AR Server .................................................26
      5.5. DHCP Tuning ...............................................27
      5.6. IP Multicast AR ...........................................27
           5.6.1. Multicast/Broadcast Addressing for UDLR ............28
   6. Link Layer Support .............................................29
      6.1. ULE without a Destination MAC/NPA Address (D=1) ...........30
      6.2. ULE with a Destination MAC/NPA Address (D=0) ..............31
      6.3. MPE without LLC/SNAP Encapsulation ........................31
      6.4. MPE with LLC/SNAP Encapsulation ...........................31
      6.5. ULE with Bridging Header Extension (D=1) ..................32
      6.6. ULE with Bridging Header Extension and NPA Address (D=0) ..32
      6.7. MPE with LLC/SNAP & Bridging ..............................33
   7. Conclusions ....................................................33
   8. Security Considerations ........................................34
   9. Acknowledgments ................................................35
   10. References ....................................................35
      10.1. Normative References .....................................35
      10.2. Informative References ...................................36

Fairhurst & Montpetit        Informational                      [Page 2]
RFC 4947       AR Mechanisms for IP over MPEG-2 Networks       July 2007

1.  Introduction

   This document describes the process of binding/associating IPv4/IPv6
   addresses with MPEG-2 Transport Streams (TS).  This procedure is
   known as Address Resolution (AR), or Neighbor Discovery (ND).  Such
   address resolution complements the higher layer resource discovery