NETWORK ELEMENT OF A SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORK
First Claim
1. A network element for a software-defined network, the network element comprising a data transfer interface for receiving and transmitting data and a processing system adapted to:
- construct, in accordance with configuration data received from a controller of the software-defined network, a software-defined data path for managing first data to be forwarded, the software-defined data path comprising lookup tables for selecting software-defined actions and one or more of the software-defined actions modifying first metadata associated with the first data,configure, in accordance with forwarding-parameter data received at the network element, a fixed-functionality data path for managing second data to be forwarded, the fixed-functionality data path defining fixed-functionality actions and one or more of the fixed-functionality actions modifying second metadata associated with the second data,convert the first metadata associated with the first data being managed by the software-defined data path to a data format suitable for the fixed-functionality data path in response to a need to carry out one or more of the fixed-functionality actions in conjunction with forwarding the first data,determine a first one of the fixed-functionality actions from among the fixed-functionality actions at least partly on the basis of which one of the look-up tables was most recently accessed when managing the first data, andcontrol the determined first one of the fixed-functionality actions to be carried out so as to initiate the needed one or more fixed-functionality actions to be carried out at least partly in accordance with the converted first metadata.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network element of a software-defined network comprises a data transfer interface (210) for receiving and transmitting data and a processing system (215) for constructing a software-defined data path and a fixed-functionality data path such as for example an IP/MPLS or L2 switching path. The software-defined data path comprises look-up tables for selecting software-defined actions and the fixed-functionality data path defines fixed-functionality actions. The processing system is adapted to convert metadata associated with data managed by the software-defined data path to a data format suitable for the fixed-functionality data path when one or more of the fixed-functionality actions are needed in conjunction with forwarding the data. One of the fixed-functionality actions is selected at least partly on the basis of which one of the look-up tables was most recently accessed, and the determined fixed-functionality action is carried out so as to initiate the one or more needed fixed-functionality actions.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A network element for a software-defined network, the network element comprising a data transfer interface for receiving and transmitting data and a processing system adapted to:
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construct, in accordance with configuration data received from a controller of the software-defined network, a software-defined data path for managing first data to be forwarded, the software-defined data path comprising lookup tables for selecting software-defined actions and one or more of the software-defined actions modifying first metadata associated with the first data, configure, in accordance with forwarding-parameter data received at the network element, a fixed-functionality data path for managing second data to be forwarded, the fixed-functionality data path defining fixed-functionality actions and one or more of the fixed-functionality actions modifying second metadata associated with the second data, convert the first metadata associated with the first data being managed by the software-defined data path to a data format suitable for the fixed-functionality data path in response to a need to carry out one or more of the fixed-functionality actions in conjunction with forwarding the first data, determine a first one of the fixed-functionality actions from among the fixed-functionality actions at least partly on the basis of which one of the look-up tables was most recently accessed when managing the first data, and control the determined first one of the fixed-functionality actions to be carried out so as to initiate the needed one or more fixed-functionality actions to be carried out at least partly in accordance with the converted first metadata. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing data in a network element of a software-defined network, the method comprising:
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maintaining, in accordance with configuration data received from a controller of the software-defined network, a software-defined data path for managing first data to be forwarded, the software-defined data path comprising look-up tables for selecting software-defined actions and one or more of the software-defined actions modifying first metadata associated with the first data, maintaining, in accordance with forwarding-parameter data received at the network element, a fixed-functionality data path for managing second data to be forwarded, the fixed-functionality data path defining fixed-functionality actions and one or more of the fixed-functionality actions modifying second metadata associated with the second data, converting the first metadata associated with the first data being managed by the software-defined data path to a data format suitable for the fixed-functionality data path in response to a need to carry out one or more of the fixed-functionality actions in conjunction with forwarding the first data, determining a first one of the fixed-functionality actions from among the fixed-functionality actions at least partly on the basis of which one of the look-up tables was most recently accessed when managing the first data, and controlling the determined first one of the fixed-functionality actions to be carried out so as to initiate the needed one or more fixed-functionality actions to be carried out at least partly in accordance with the converted first metadata. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processing system of a network element of a software-defined network to:
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construct, in accordance with configuration data received from a controller of the software-defined network, a software-defined data path for managing first data to be forwarded, the software-defined data path comprising lookup tables for selecting software-defined actions and one or more of the software-defined actions modifying first metadata associated with the first data, configure, in accordance with forwarding-parameter data received at the network element, a fixed-functionality data path for managing second data to be forwarded, the fixed-functionality data path defining fixed-functionality actions and one or more of the fixed-functionality actions modifying second metadata associated with the second data, convert the first metadata associated with the first data being managed by the software-defined data path to a data format suitable for the fixed-functionality data path in response to a need to carry out one or more of the fixed-functionality actions in conjunction with forwarding the first data, determine one of the fixed-functionality actions from among the fixed-functionality actions at least partly on the basis of which one of the look-up tables was most recently accessed when managing the first data, and control the determined one of the fixed-functionality actions to be carried out so as to initiate the needed one or more fixed-functionality actions to be carried out at least partly in accordance with the converted first metadata.
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Specification