Methods and apparatus for providing optimal identification and processing of layer 3 control channels

• US 20080008168A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barber, Simon, Ward, David, Nadeau, Thomas D., Bryant, Stewart F., Swallow, George
• Application Number:
  US11/482,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20080008168A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

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).

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier comprises:

identifying the destination address in the L3 control packet; and

performing an address lookup operation to determine if the second forwarding entity address is the same as the destination address.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising:

upon determining that the second forwarding entity address is the destination address, processing the token identifier to determine if local processing of the L3 control packet is required; and

in response to processing the token identifier, processing the control channel data of the L3 control packet.

4. The method of claim 2 comprising:

upon determining that second forwarding entity address is not the destination address, transmitting the L3 control packet with the token identifier to another forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the adding a token identifier to the IP control packet comprises:

adding a token identifier that is specific to a particular L3 control channel protocol.

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:

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.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the instructions operable on a processor to process, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier comprises:

instructions operable on a processor to identify the destination address in the L3 control packet; and

instructions operable on a processor to perform an address lookup operation to determine if the second forwarding entity address is the same as the destination address.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 comprising:

upon determining that the second forwarding entity address is the destination address, instructions operable on a processor to process the token identifier to determine if local processing of the L3 control packet is required; and

in response to processing the token identifier, instructions operable on a processor to process the control channel data of the L3 control packet.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7 comprising:

upon determining that second forwarding entity address is not the destination address, instructions operable on a processor to transmit the L3 control packet with the token identifier to another forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the instructions operable on a processor to add a token identifier to the L3 control packet comprises:

instructions operable on a processor to add a token identifier that is specific to a particular L3 control channel protocol.

11. A network device comprising:

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.

12. The network device of claim 11 wherein the processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier comprises:

identifying the destination address in the L3 control packet; and

performing an address lookup operation to determine if the second forwarding entity address is the same as the destination address.

13. The network device of claim 12 comprising:

upon determining that the second forwarding entity address is the destination address, processing the token identifier to determine if local processing of the L3 control packet is required; and

in response to processing the token identifier, processing the control channel data of the L3 control packet.

14. The network device of claim 12 comprising:

upon determining that second forwarding entity address is not the destination address, transmitting the L3 control packet with the token identifier to another forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol.

15. The network device of claim 11 wherein the adding a token identifier to the L3 control packet comprises:

adding a token identifier that is specific to a particular L3 control channel protocol.

16. A network device comprising:

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.

17. The network device of claim 16 wherein receiving, at a source forwarding entity in the network having Layer 3 (L3) address, a request for an L3 control packet comprises:

receiving a request for an L3 control packet from a router.

18. The network device of claim 16 wherein receiving, at a source forwarding entity in the network having Layer 3 (L3) address, a request for an L3 control packet comprises:

receiving a request for an L3 control packet from a local process.

19. The network device of claim 16 wherein the adding a token identifier to the L3 control packet comprises:

adding a token identifier that is specific to a particular L3 control channel protocol.

20. A network device comprising:

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.

21. The network device of claim 20 wherein the processing, at the second forwarding entity, the L3 control packet with the token identifier comprises:

identifying the destination address in the L3 control packet; and

performing an address lookup operation to determine if the forwarding entity address is the same as the destination address.

22. The network device of claim 21 comprising:

upon determining that the second forwarding entity address is the destination address, processing the token identifier to determine if local processing of the L3 control packet is required; and

in response to processing the token identifier, processing the control channel data of the L3 control packet.

23. The network device of claim 21 comprising:

upon determining that the forwarding entity address is not the destination address, transmitting the L3 control packet with the token identifier to another forwarding entity in accordance with the tunneling protocol.

24. The network device of claim 20 wherein the token identifier is specific to a particular L3 control channel protocol.