Infrastructure-exclusive service forwarding
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving at a network element a packet including a Network Services Header (“
NSH”
), wherein the NSH includes an Infrastructure (“
I”
) flag and a service path header comprising a Service Index (“
SI”
), and a Service Path ID (“
SPI”
);
determining whether the I flag is set to a first value;
if the I flag is set to the first value;
setting the I flag to a second value; and
forwarding the packet to a service function that corresponds to the SI for processing;
if the I flag is not set to the first value;
decrementing the SI; and
making a forwarding decision based on a new value of the SI and the SPI;
wherein the I flag will be set to the first value when the packet is to be forwarded to a forwarding element and to the second value when the packet is to be forwarded to the service function.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving at a network element a packet including a Network Services Header (“NSH”), in which the NSH includes an Infrastructure (“I”) flag and a service path header comprising a Service Index (“SI”), and a Service Path ID (“SPI”) and determining whether the I flag is set to a first value. The method further includes, if the I flag is set to the first value, setting the I flag to a second value and forwarding the packet to the service function that corresponds to the SI for processing. The method still further includes, if the I flag is not set to the first value, decrementing the SI and making a forwarding decision based on a new value of the SI and the SPI.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving at a network element a packet including a Network Services Header (“
NSH”
), wherein the NSH includes an Infrastructure (“
I”
) flag and a service path header comprising a Service Index (“
SI”
), and a Service Path ID (“
SPI”
);determining whether the I flag is set to a first value; if the I flag is set to the first value; setting the I flag to a second value; and forwarding the packet to a service function that corresponds to the SI for processing; if the I flag is not set to the first value; decrementing the SI; and making a forwarding decision based on a new value of the SI and the SPI; wherein the I flag will be set to the first value when the packet is to be forwarded to a forwarding element and to the second value when the packet is to be forwarded to the service function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. One or more non-transitory tangible media having encoded thereon logic that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:
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receiving at a network element a packet including a Network Services Header (“
NSH”
), wherein the NSH includes an Infrastructure (“
I”
) flag and a service path header comprising a Service Index (“
SI”
), and a Service Path ID (“
SPI”
);determining whether the I flag is set to a first value; if the I flag is set to the first value; setting the I flag to a second value; and forwarding the packet to a service function that corresponds to the SI for processing; if the I flag is not set to the first value; decrementing the SI; and making a forwarding decision based on a new value of the SI and the SPI; wherein the I flag will be set to the first value when the packet is to be forwarded to a forwarding element and to the second value when the packet is to be forwarded to a service function. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a memory element configured to store data; a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data; and a service forwarding function module configured to; receive at a network element a packet including a Network Services Header (“
NSH”
), wherein the NSH includes an Infrastructure (“
I”
) flag and a service path header comprising a Service Index (“
SI”
), and a Service Path ID (“
SPI”
);determine whether the I flag is set to a first value; if the I flag is set to the first value; set the I flag to a second value; and forward the packet to a service function that corresponds to the SI for processing; if the I flag is not set to the first value; decrement the SI; and make a forwarding decision based on a new value of the SI and the SPI; wherein the I flag will be set to the first value when the packet is to be forwarded to a forwarding element and to the second value when the packet is to be forwarded to a service function. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification