Methods and apparatus for providing optimal identification and processing of layer 3 control channels
First Claim
1. In a network having a plurality of forwarding entities operable to transmit message traffic from a particular forwarding entity to another forwarding entity via a tunneling protocol, each forwarding entity having a Layer 3 (L3) address, a method for transmitting L3 control packets comprising:
- receiving, at a source forwarding entity in the network, a request for an L3 control packet, wherein the L3 control packet includes control channel data for implementing a control channel operation;
adding a token identifier to the L3 control packet, the token identifier indicating that local processing of the L3 control packet is required;
adding a destination address to the L3 control packet in accordance with the tunneling protocol;
transmitting, from the source forwarding entity in the network, the L3 control packet with the token identifier to a second forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol;
receiving, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier;
processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for processing token identifiers for Layer 3 (L3) control channels when encapsulated in a tunneling protocol. Rather than encapsulating an L3 control channel with a secondary L3 (or Layer 4 ‘L4 ’) header, a generic (non-Layer 3 header) identifier, or token identifier, is used to encapsulate the control channel. For example, the token identifier may be a simple bit pattern that does not require a complex, confusing or redundant IP/UDP routing table lookup. Instead, the token identifier simply alerts the forwarding entity that local processing of the packet'"'"'s data is required (e.g., that the packet contains control channel data).
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a network having a plurality of forwarding entities operable to transmit message traffic from a particular forwarding entity to another forwarding entity via a tunneling protocol, each forwarding entity having a Layer 3 (L3) address, a method for transmitting L3 control packets comprising:
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receiving, at a source forwarding entity in the network, a request for an L3 control packet, wherein the L3 control packet includes control channel data for implementing a control channel operation; adding a token identifier to the L3 control packet, the token identifier indicating that local processing of the L3 control packet is required; adding a destination address to the L3 control packet in accordance with the tunneling protocol; transmitting, from the source forwarding entity in the network, the L3 control packet with the token identifier to a second forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol; receiving, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier; processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer readable medium having computer readable code thereon for providing a method for transmitting Layer 3 (L3) control packets in a network, the network having a plurality of forwarding entities operable to transmit message traffic from a particular forwarding entity to another forwarding entity via a tunneling protocol, each forwarding entity having an L3 address, the medium comprising:
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instructions operable on a processor to receive, at a source forwarding entity in the network, a request for an L3 control packet, wherein the L3 control packet includes control channel data for implementing a control channel operation; instructions operable on a processor to add a token identifier to the L3 control packet, the token identifier indicating that local processing of the L3 control packet is required; instructions operable on a processor to add a destination address to the L3 control packet in accordance with the tunneling protocol; instructions operable on a processor to transmit, from the source forwarding entity in the network, the L3 control packet with the token identifier to a second forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol; instructions operable on a processor to receive, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier; instructions operable on a processor to process, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network device comprising:
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a memory; a processor; a communications interface; an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and wherein the memory is encoded with an identification manager application that when performed on the processor, provides an identification manager process for processing information in a network having a plurality of forwarding entities operable to transmit message traffic from a particular forwarding entity to another forwarding entity via a tunneling protocol, each forwarding entity having a Layer 3 (L3) address, the identification manager process causing the network device to be capable of performing the operations of; receiving, at a source forwarding entity in the network, a request for an L3 control packet, wherein the L3 control packet includes control channel data for implementing a control channel operation; adding a token identifier to the L3 control packet, the token identifier indicating that local processing of the L3 control packet is required; adding a destination address to the L3 control packet in accordance with the tunneling protocol; transmitting, from the source forwarding entity in the network, the L3 control packet with the token identifier to a second forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol; receiving, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier; processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network device comprising:
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a memory; a processor; a communications interface; an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and wherein the memory is encoded with an identification manager application that when performed on the processor, provides an identification manager process for processing information in a network operable to transmit message traffic via a tunneling protocol, the identification manager process causing the network device to be capable of performing the operations of;
receiving, at a source forwarding entity in the network having Layer 3 (L3) address, a request for an L3 control packet, wherein the L3 control packet includ control channel data for implementing a control channel operation;adding a token identifier to the L3 control packet, the token identifier indicating that local processing of the L3 control packet is required; adding a destination address to the L3 control packet in accordance with the tunneling protocol; transmitting, from the source forwarding entity in the network, the L3 control packet with the token identifier to a second forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A network device comprising:
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a memory; a processor; a communications interface; an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and wherein the memory is encoded with an identification manager application that when performed on the processor, provides an identification manager process for processing information in a network operable to transmit message traffic via a tunneling protocol, the identification manager process causing the network device to be capable of performing the operations of; receiving, at a forwarding entity in the network having a Layer 3 (L3) address, an L3 control packet including; i) a destination address; ii) control channel data for implementing a control channel operation; and iii) a token identifier indicating that local processing of the L3 control packet is required; and processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification