Methods and modules for managing packets in a software defined network

• US 10,193,798 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Roeland, Dinand, Curescu, Calin
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M
• Application Number:
  US15/542,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20180262424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 Flow based routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/64 using an overlay routing layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing

Abstract

Methods, an uplink module (130), downlink module (160), an entry module (170) and a management module (147) for managing packets in a communication system (100) based on Software Defined Networking are disclosed. A data plane of the communication system (100) comprises a forwarding module (140), a service module (145) and the entry module (170) and a control plane of the communication system (100) comprises the management module (147). The entry module (170) receives (8) an Internet Protocol “IP” packet from the peer device (180), wherein the IP packet includes a destination IP address associated with the mobile device (120). The entry module (170) obtains (9), from the management module (147), a location value specifying the radio network node (110) associated with the destination IP address. The entry module (170) associates (10) the location value with the IP packet, wherein the location value is related to a location tag name, indicating the radio network node (110) that serves the mobile device (120), thereby obtaining a packet. The entry module (170) sends (11) the packet, via the forwarding module (140), towards the radio network node (110) as indicated by the location value of the location tag name. Corresponding computer programs and carriers therefor are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, performed by an entry module, for managing packets in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises the entry module, a radio network node, a mobile device, a forwarding module, a service module, a peer device and a management module for managing the forwarding module, the service module and the entry module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the forwarding module, the service module and the entry module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the mobile device is attached to the radio network node, wherein the method comprises:

receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) packet from the peer device, wherein the IP packet includes a destination IP address associated with the mobile device;

obtaining, from the management module, a location value specifying the radio network node associated with the destination IP address;

associating the location value with the IP packet, wherein the location value is related to a location tag name, indicating the radio network node that serves the mobile device, thereby obtaining a packet; and

sending the packet, via the forwarding module, towards the radio network node as indicated by the location value of the location tag name.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP packet is associated with a flow of IP packets from the peer device to the mobile device, wherein at least some other IP packets of the flow are receivable by a further entry module of the communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication system is anchorless in that the entry module is capable of being one of many entry modules for receiving the IP packet, with the destination IP address, into the communication system from any communication network neighboring thereto.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating of the location value with the IP packet comprises generating the packet by encapsulating the IP packet, wherein the packet includes a header comprising the location value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet is the IP packet, wherein the associating of the location value with the IP packet comprises setting the location value as a first option value of the IP packet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, from the management module first configuration information indicating the location tag name and location values associated thereto, wherein each location value is associated to a respective radio network node to which the mobile device is capable of attaching.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entry module comprises an Internet Protocol Advertisement Point.

8. A method, performed by a downlink module, for managing packets in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises the downlink module, a radio network node, a mobile device, a forwarding module, a service module, a peer device and a management module for managing the forwarding module and the service module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the downlink module, the forwarding module and the service module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the mobile device is attached to the radio network node, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, from the management module, second configuration information indicating a treatment tag name, and treatment values;

receiving, via the entry module, a packet from the peer device;

selecting a treatment value out of the treatment values based on information included in the packet, thereby classifying the packet;

associating the treatment value with the packet, wherein the treatment value is related to the treatment tag name; and

sending the packet and the associated treatment value, via the forwarding module which performs a treatment of the packet according to the treatment value, towards the radio network node.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the associating of the treatment value with the packet comprises generating a downlink classified packet by encapsulating the packet, wherein the downlink classified packet includes a header comprising the treatment value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the associating of the treatment value with the packet comprises associating an identity value of the mobile device with a device tag name by encapsulating the packet, wherein the header of the downlink classified packet includes the identity value.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the packet is an IP packet, wherein the associating of the treatment value with the packet comprises setting the treatment value as a second option value of the IP packet.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the packet is an IP packet, wherein the destination IP address of the IP packet is used to identify the mobile device.

13. A method, performed by a management module, for managing configuration information in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises an entry module, a downlink module, a forwarding module, and an uplink module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the forwarding module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the method comprises:

generating first configuration information and/or second configuration information,

wherein the first configuration information indicates a location tag name and location values, wherein each location value is associated to a respective radio network node to which the mobile device is capable of attaching, and/or

the second configuration information indicates a treatment tag name and treatment values and a rule for treatment, performed by the forwarding module, of the packets; and

sending the first configuration information to the entry module and/or sending the second configuration information to the downlink module and/or the uplink module.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises:

configuring the forwarding module with third configuration information without triggering by mobility of the mobile device, wherein the third configuration information specifies to which port a packet, having a location value of the set of location values, is to be forwarded.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the rule of the second configuration information specifies how to select a treatment value based on destination IP address and/or source IP address of a packet.

16. A method, performed by an uplink module, for managing packets in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises the uplink module, a radio network node, a mobile device, a forwarding module, a service module, a peer device and a management module for managing the forwarding module and the service module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the uplink module, the forwarding module and the service module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the mobile device is attached to the radio network node, wherein the method comprises:

receiving, from the management module, second configuration information indicating a treatment tag name, and treatment values;

receiving, via the radio network node, an IP packet from the mobile device;

selecting a treatment value out of the treatment values based on information included in the packet, thereby classifying the IP packet;

generating an uplink classified packet encapsulating the treatment value and the IP packet, wherein the treatment value is related to the treatment tag name; and

sending the uplink classified packet, via the forwarding module which performs a treatment of the uplink classified packet according to the treatment value, towards the peer device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the generating of the uplink classified packet comprises further encapsulating an identity value of the peer device with an identity tag name into the uplink classified packet.

18. An entry module configured to manage packets in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises the entry module, a radio network node, a mobile device, a forwarding module, a service module, a peer device and a management module for managing the forwarding module, the service module and the entry module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the forwarding module, the service module and the entry module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the mobile device is attached to the radio network node, the entry module comprising:

an input/output circuit configured to send and receive packets;

a processing circuit operatively coupled to the input/output circuit;

and a memory circuit operatively coupled to the processing circuit and storing program instructions for execution by the processing circuit, the program instructions being configured to cause the entry module to;

receive an Internet Protocol (IP) packet from the peer device, wherein the IP packet includes a destination IP address associated with the mobile device;

obtain, from the management module, a location value specifying the radio network node associated with the destination IP address;

associate the location value with the IP packet, wherein the location value is related to a location tag name, indicating the radio network node that serves the mobile device, thereby obtaining a packet; and

send the packet, via the forwarding module, towards the radio network node as indicated by the location value of the location tag name.

19. The entry module of claim 18, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the entry module to associate the location value with the IP packet by generating the packet by encapsulating the IP packet, wherein the packet includes a header comprising the location value.

20. The entry module of claim 18, wherein the packet is the IP packet, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the entry module to associate the location value with the IP packet by setting the location value as a first option value of the IP packet.

21. The entry module of claim 18, wherein the entry module comprises an Internet Protocol Advertisement Point.

22. A downlink module configured to manage packets in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises the downlink module, a radio network node, a mobile device, a forwarding module, a service module, a peer device and a management module for managing the forwarding module and the service module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the downlink module, the forwarding module and the service module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the mobile device is attached to the radio network node, the downlink module comprising:

an input/output circuit configured to send and receive packets;

a processing circuit operatively coupled to the input/output circuit;

and a memory circuit operatively coupled to the processing circuit and storing program instructions for execution by the processing circuit, the program instructions being configured to cause the downlink module to;

receive, from the management module, second configuration information indicating a treatment tag name, and treatment values, performed by the forwarding module, of the packets;

receive, via the entry module, a packet from the peer device;

select a treatment value out of the treatment values based on information included in the packet, thereby classifying the packet;

associate the treatment value with the packet, wherein the treatment value is related to the treatment tag name; and

send the packet and the associated treatment value, via the forwarding module which performs a treatment of the downlink classified packet according to the treatment value, towards the radio network node.

23. The downlink module of claim 22, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the downlink module to associate the treatment value with the packet by generating a downlink classified packet by encapsulating the IP packet, wherein the downlink classified packet includes a header comprising the treatment value.

24. The downlink module of claim 23, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the downlink module to associate the treatment value with the packet by associating an identity value of the mobile device with a device tag name by encapsulating the IP packet, wherein the header of the downlink classified packet includes the identity value.

25. The downlink module of claim 22, wherein the packet is an IP packet, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the downlink module to associate the treatment value with the packet by setting the treatment value as a second option value of the IP packet.

26. A management module configured to manage configuration information in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises an entry module, a downlink module, a forwarding module, and an uplink module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the forwarding module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, the management module comprising:

an input/output circuit configured to send and receive packets;

a processing circuit operatively coupled to the input/output circuit;

and a memory circuit operatively coupled to the processing circuit and storing program instructions for execution by the processing circuit, the program instructions being configured to cause the management module to;

generate first configuration information and/or second configuration information,

wherein the first configuration information indicates a location tag name and location values, wherein each location value is associated to a respective radio network node to which the mobile device is capable of attaching, and/or

the second configuration information indicates a treatment tag name and treatment values and a rule for treatment, performed by the forwarding module, of the packets; and

send the first configuration information to the entry module and/or sending the second configuration information to the downlink module and/or the uplink module.

27. The management module of claim 26, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the management module to:

configure the forwarding module with third configuration information without triggering by mobility of the mobile device, wherein the third configuration information specifies to which port a packet, having a location value of the set of location values, is to be forwarded.

28. The management module of claim 26, wherein the rule of the second configuration information specifies how to select a treatment value based on destination IP address and/or source IP address of a packet.

29. An uplink module configured for managing packets in a communication system based on Software Defined Networking, wherein the communication system comprises the uplink module, a radio network node, a mobile device, a forwarding module, a service module, a peer device and a management module for managing the forwarding module and the service module, wherein a data plane of the communication system comprises the downlink module, the forwarding module and the service module and a control plane of the communication system comprises the management module, wherein the mobile device is attached to the radio network node, the uplink module comprising:

an input/output circuit configured to send and receive packets;

a processing circuit operatively coupled to the input/output circuit;

and a memory circuit operatively coupled to the processing circuit and storing program instructions for execution by the processing circuit, the program instructions being configured to cause the uplink module to;

receive, from the management module, second configuration information indicating a treatment tag name, and treatment values;

receive, via the radio network node, an IP packet from the mobile device;

select a treatment value out of the treatment values based on information included in the packet, thereby classifying the IP packet;

generate an uplink classified packet encapsulating the treatment value and the IP packet, wherein the treatment value is related to the treatment tag name; and

send the uplink classified packet, via the forwarding module which performs a treatment of the uplink classified packet according to the treatment value, towards the peer device.

30. The uplink module of claim 29, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the uplink module to generate the uplink classified packet by further encapsulating an identity value of the peer device with an identity tag name into the uplink classified packet.