Latency reduction in service function paths
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for reducing packet transfer latency in a network overlay, the method comprising:
- sending a packet along a service function chain (SFC) to an egress node, the SFC comprising a plurality of service function forwarders (SFFs), each of the plurality of SFFs associated with at least one service function (SF); and
receiving the packet at a first SFF of the plurality of SFFs, the first SFF associated with a first SF and configured to perform operations comprising;
reading an option flag of the packet,determining whether to forward the packet to the first SF based on the option flag,identifying a time delay associated with the packet,determining whether the packet can be delivered to the egress node within a latency threshold based on the time delay, andsetting the option flag to indicate that subsequent SF invocation is optional when it is determined that the packet cannot be delivered within the latency threshold or non-optional when it is determined that the packet can be delivered within the latency threshold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In some aspects, a method of the technology can include steps for sending a packet along a service function chain (SFC) to an egress node, the SFC comprising a plurality of service function forwarders (SFFs), wherein each SFF is associated with at least one service function (SF), and receiving the packet at a first SFF in the SFC, wherein the first SFF is associated with a first SF. In some aspects, the first SFF can also be configured to perform operations including: reading an option flag of the packet, and determining whether to forward the packet to the first based on the option flag. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for reducing packet transfer latency in a network overlay, the method comprising:
- sending a packet along a service function chain (SFC) to an egress node, the SFC comprising a plurality of service function forwarders (SFFs), each of the plurality of SFFs associated with at least one service function (SF); and
receiving the packet at a first SFF of the plurality of SFFs, the first SFF associated with a first SF and configured to perform operations comprising; reading an option flag of the packet, determining whether to forward the packet to the first SF based on the option flag, identifying a time delay associated with the packet, determining whether the packet can be delivered to the egress node within a latency threshold based on the time delay, and setting the option flag to indicate that subsequent SF invocation is optional when it is determined that the packet cannot be delivered within the latency threshold or non-optional when it is determined that the packet can be delivered within the latency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- sending a packet along a service function chain (SFC) to an egress node, the SFC comprising a plurality of service function forwarders (SFFs), each of the plurality of SFFs associated with at least one service function (SF); and
-
6. A system comprising:
-
at least one processor; a network interface coupled to the at least one processor; and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising; sending a packet along a service function chain (SFC) to an egress node, the SFC comprising a plurality of service function forwarders (SFFs), each of the plurality of SFFs associated with at least one service function (SF); and receiving the packet at a first SFF of the plurality of SFFs in the SFC, the first SFF associated with a first SF and configured to perform operations comprising; reading an option flag of the packet, determining whether to forward the packet to the first SF based on the option flag, identifying a time delay associated with the packet, determining whether the packet can be delivered to the egress node within a latency threshold based on the time delay, and setting the option flag to indicate that subsequent SF invocation is optional when it is determined that the packet cannot be delivered within the latency threshold or non-optional when it is determined that the packet can be delivered within the latency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising:
-
sending a packet along a service function chain (SFC) to an egress node, the SFC comprising a plurality of service function forwarders (SFFs), each of the plurality of SFFs associated with at least one service function (SF); and receiving the packet at a first SFF of the plurality of SFFs in the SFC, the first SFF associated with a first SF and configured to perform operations comprising; reading an option flag of the packet, determining whether to forward the packet to the first SF based on the option flag, identifying a time delay associated with the packet, determining whether the packet can be delivered to the egress node within a latency threshold based on the time delay, and setting the option flag to indicate that subsequent SF invocation is optional when it is determined that the packet cannot be delivered within the latency threshold or non-optional when it is determined that the packet can be delivered within the latency threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification