SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SMART GRID COMMUNICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

• US 20150365245A1
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taft, Jeffrey D., Yadav, Navindra
• Granted Patent: US 9,634,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1863 comprising mechanisms for improved reliability, e.g. status reports arrangements for detecting or preventing errors by carrying supervisory signal the return channel H04L1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/35 Switches specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request for a service that involves phasor measurement unit (PMU) data; identifying a service device in a network to perform the service; and multicasting one or more results of the service to a group of subscribers identified by a multicast group address. In more particular embodiments, particular PMU data is redirected to the service device via a service insertion architecture (SIA) protocol. In addition, the service can include replicating packets and masking a subset of traffic for forwarding to a first hop router of the network. In certain example instances, metadata is used in order to apply the service to certain traffic propagating in the network.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method, comprising:

determining a plurality of services to be performed on phasor measurement unit (PMU) data;

identifying a plurality of service devices, wherein each of the plurality of service devices is to perform one or more of the plurality of services on the PMU data; and

directing the PMU data across the plurality of service devices to perform the plurality of services on the PMU data.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

classifying the PMU data via a service insertion architecture (SIA) protocol to determine a service classification for the PMU data.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

appending one or more packets of the PMU data with the service classification.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the appending further comprises including the service classification within an SIA context associated with the one or more packets of the PMU data.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving at least one packet of PMU data appended with the SIA context;

identifying the service classification for the at least one packet of PMU data via the SIA context;

determining a service policy for the at least packet of PMU data based, at least in part, on the service classification; and

applying the service policy to the at least one packet of PMU data.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

determining a service device to receive the at least one packet of PMU data based, at least in part, on the SIA context; and

communicating the at least one packet of PMU data to the service device.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

removing the SIA context from the at least one packet of PMU data if a last service is performed on the at least one packet of PMU data.

28. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution that when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations, comprising:

determining a plurality of services to be performed on phasor measurement unit (PMU) data;

identifying a plurality of service devices, wherein each of the plurality of service devices is to perform one or more of the plurality of services on the PMU data; and

directing the PMU data across the plurality of service devices to perform the plurality of services on the PMU data.

29. The logic of claim 28, the operations further comprising:

classifying the PMU data via a service insertion architecture (SIA) protocol to determine a service classification for the PMU data.

30. The logic of claim 29, the operations further comprising:

appending one or more packets of the PMU data with the service classification.

31. The logic of claim 30, wherein the appending further comprises including the service classification within an SIA context associated with the one or more packets of the PMU data.

32. The logic of claim 31, the operations further comprising:

receiving at least one packet of PMU data appended with the SIA context;

identifying the service classification for the at least one packet of PMU data via the SIA context;

determining a service policy for the at least packet of PMU data based, at least in part, on the service classification; and

applying the service policy to the at least one packet of PMU data.

33. The logic of claim 32, the operations further comprising:

determining a service device to receive the at least one packet of PMU data based, at least in part, on the SIA context; and

communicating the at least one packet of PMU data to the service device.

34. The logic of claim 32, the operations further comprising:

removing the SIA context from the at least one packet of PMU data if a last service is performed on the at least one packet of PMU data.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, wherein the apparatus is configured for;

determining a plurality of services to be performed on phasor measurement unit (PMU) data;

identifying a plurality of service devices, wherein each of the plurality of service devices is to perform one or more of the plurality of services on the PMU data; and

directing the PMU data across the plurality of service devices to perform the plurality of services on the PMU data.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

classifying the PMU data via a service insertion architecture (SIA) protocol to determine a service classification for the PMU data.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

appending one or more packets of the PMU data with the service classification.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the appending further comprises including the service classification within an SIA context associated with the one or more packets of the PMU data.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

receiving at least one packet of PMU data appended with the SIA context;

identifying the service classification for the at least one packet of PMU data via the SIA context;

determining a service policy for the at least packet of PMU data based, at least in part, on the service classification; and

applying the service policy to the at least one packet of PMU data.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

determining a service device to receive the at least one packet of PMU data based, at least in part, on the SIA context; and

communicating the at least one packet of PMU data to the service device.