SERVICE PATH SELECTION IN A SERVICE NETWORK

• US 20100080226A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khalid, Mohamed, Durazzo, Kenneth, Quinn, Paul, Pruss, Richard Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA

Abstract

A service chain system is provided. The system includes a packet of data that is operable to pass through a network of service nodes as defined by a service chain; and a service classification device that is operable to change the service chain based on a system performance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the memory including computer code executable with the processor, wherein the computer code is configured to;

receive a packet classification, which classifies a packet of data;

determine a service chain for the packet classification based on system performance, the service chain defining a network of service nodes to perform a service on the packet of data;

transmit a service chain header that defines the service chain.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system performance comprises a service time, the service time being an amount of time for a service node to perform a service on the packet of data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network of service nodes includes a first service node and a second service node, the first and second service node being operable to perform a first service on the packet, the service header defining that the first service is to be performed by the first service node.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer code is configured to change the service header, such that second service node performs the service.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer code is configured to:

measure a first service performance for the first service node,

measure a second service performance for the second service node,

compare the first service performance and the second service performance; and

change the service header based on the comparison.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the computer code is configured to receive the first service performance from the first service node and the second service performance from the second service node.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer code is configured to:

measure a first service performance for the first service node,

compare the first service performance to a service level agreement, and

change the service chain header so that the packet of data is transmitted to a second service node, which is in accordance with the service level agreement, when the first service performance is not in compliance with the service level agreement.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer code is configured to transmit the service chain header to a service classification device.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a packet of data;

classifying the packet of data;

receiving a service chain header based on the classification of the packet of data, the service chain header defining a first service node to perform a service on the packet of data;

determining a first service performance at the first service node;

changing the service chain header when the first service performance is not in accordance with a service level agreement, the service chain header being changed to define a second service node; and

transmitting the packet of data to the second service node.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein changing the service chain header includes comparing the first service performance at the first service node to service performance defined in the service level agreement.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a first service performance includes determining a first processing load on the first service node.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first processing load is used to determine a first service time for the first service node.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the service chain header is received from a service broker or a service classifier.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first service node and the second service node perform the same service to the pack of data.

15. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

receive a packet of data having a service chain header that defines a first service node to receive the packet of data;

change the first service node in the service chain header to a second service node based on a first service performance of the first service node and a second service performance of the second service node;

perform a service to the packet of data;

transmit the serviced packet of data to the second service node.

16. The logic of claim 15, when executed also operable receive a message from a service broker, the message indicating that the first service node in the service chain header should be changed to the second service node.

17. The logic of claim 15, wherein the packet of data is received from a service classifier.

18. The logic of claim 15, when executed also operable to measure a first service time, which is a time that is takes to perform a service to the packet of data.

19. The logic of claim 18, when executed also operable to report the first service time and a second service time for the second service node to a service broker that is operable to define a service chain.

20. The logic of claim 15, when executed also operable to report the first service time and a second service time for the second service node to a reporting device that is operable to report to a service broker.