Service Chain Header and Metadata Transport
First Claim
1. A method for service chain header processing in a communication network, the method comprising:
- inserting, by an upstream service function chain (SFC) entity, a metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field into a service chain header (SCH) appended to a packet, wherein the SCH comprises a version field that indicates a version associated with the SCH, and wherein the metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field includes metadata information for processing the packet at a downstream SFC entity on a service chain path; and
forwarding the packet to the downstream SFC entity over the service chain path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Metadata may be embedded in a service chain header (SCH) appended to a packet that is forwarded over a service chain path. The metadata may include information that is used to process the packet at a downstream service function chain (SFC) entity on the service chain path. The metadata TLV field may identify a service action to be performed by a downstream SFC entity. For example, the metadata TLV field may instruct the downstream SFC entity to drop the packet, to redirect the packet (or a traffic flow associated with the packet), to mirror a traffic flow, to terminate a communication connection, to start or stop a packet accounting, and/or to apply a higher grade of service. In another embodiment, the metadata TLV field specifies an OAM service action list that identifies service actions that have been performed on the packet.
193 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for service chain header processing in a communication network, the method comprising:
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inserting, by an upstream service function chain (SFC) entity, a metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field into a service chain header (SCH) appended to a packet, wherein the SCH comprises a version field that indicates a version associated with the SCH, and wherein the metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field includes metadata information for processing the packet at a downstream SFC entity on a service chain path; and forwarding the packet to the downstream SFC entity over the service chain path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An upstream service function chain (SFC) entity comprising:
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a processor; and a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to; insert a metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field into a service chain header (SCH) appended to a packet, wherein the SCH comprises a version field that indicates a version associated with the SCH, and wherein the metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field includes metadata information for processing the packet at a downstream SFC entity on a service chain path; and forward the packet to the downstream SFC entity over the service chain path.
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13. A method for service chain header processing in a communication network, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a downstream service function chain (SFC) entity, a packet over a service chain path, wherein the packet includes a service chain header (SCH) comprising a version field that indicates a version associated with the SCH and a metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field including metadata information; and processing, by the downstream SFC, the packet in accordance with the metadata information included in the metadata TLV field embedded in the SCH. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A downstream service function chain (SFC) entity comprising:
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a processor; and a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to; receive a packet over a service chain path, wherein the packet includes a service chain header (SCH) comprising a version field that indicates a version associated with the SCH and a metadata Type-Length-Value (TLV) field including metadata information; and process the packet in accordance with the metadata information included in the metadata TLV field embedded in the SCH.
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Specification