Packet processing in a communication network element with stacked applications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a communication network element, the method comprising:
- receiving a user packet in a packet flow for a user into the communication network element and storing the user packet in a memory;
retrieving the user packet from the memory, processing the user packet with a first service function, and storing the user packet in the memory;
transferring a memory pointer for the user packet to a second service function;
retrieving the user packet from the memory based on the memory pointer, processing the user packet with the second service function, and storing the user packet in the memory; and
transferring the user packet from the communication network element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network element receives a user packet in a packet flow for a user and stores the user packet in a memory. The network element retrieves the user packet from the memory, processes the user packet with a first service function, and stores the user packet in the memory. The network element transfers a memory pointer for the user packet to a second service function. The network element retrieves the user packet from the memory based on the memory pointer, processes the user packet with the second service function, and stores the user packet in the memory. The network element transfers the user packet.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communication network element, the method comprising:
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receiving a user packet in a packet flow for a user into the communication network element and storing the user packet in a memory; retrieving the user packet from the memory, processing the user packet with a first service function, and storing the user packet in the memory; transferring a memory pointer for the user packet to a second service function; retrieving the user packet from the memory based on the memory pointer, processing the user packet with the second service function, and storing the user packet in the memory; and transferring the user packet from the communication network element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating a communication network element, the method comprising:
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receiving a user packet in a packet flow for a user into the communication network element and storing the user packet in a memory; retrieving a packet header of the user packet from the memory, processing the packet header with a first service function, and storing the packet header in the memory; transferring a first memory pointer for the packet header to a second service function; retrieving the packet header from the memory based on the first memory pointer, processing the packet header with the second service function, and storing the packet header in the memory; retrieving a packet payload of the user packet from the memory, processing the packet payload with a third service function, and storing the packet payload in the memory; transferring a second memory pointer for the packet payload to a fourth service function; retrieving the packet payload from the memory based on the second memory pointer, processing the packet payload with the fourth service function, and storing the packet payload in the memory; and transferring the user packet from the communication network element. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a communication network element, the method comprising:
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receiving a first packet in a first packet flow for a first user and receiving a second packet in a second packet flow for a second user into the communication network element and storing the first packet and the second packet in a memory; selecting a first sequence of service functions to process the first packet in response to receiving the first packet and selecting a second sequence of the service functions to process the second packet in response to receiving the second packet; retrieving the first packet from the memory, processing the first packet with a first one of the service functions in the first sequence, and storing the first packet in the memory; retrieving the first packet from the memory, processing the first packet with a second one of the service functions in the first sequence, and storing the first packet in the memory; retrieving the second packet from the memory, processing the second packet with a first one of the service functions in the second sequence, and storing the second packet in the memory; retrieving the second packet from the memory, processing the second packet with a second one of the service functions in the second sequence, and storing the second packet in the memory; and transferring the first packet and transferring the second packet from the communication network element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a communication network element, the method comprising:
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receiving a first packet and a second packet in a packet flow for a user into the communication network element and storing the first packet and the second packet in a memory; selecting a first group of service functions to process the first packet in response to receiving the first packet and selecting a second group of the service functions to process the second packet in response to receiving the second packet; retrieving the first packet from the memory, processing the first packet with a first one of the service functions in the first group, and storing the first packet in the memory; retrieving the first packet from the memory, processing the first packet with a second one of the service functions in the first group, and storing the first packet in the memory; retrieving the second packet from the memory, processing the second packet with a first one of the service functions in the second group, and storing the second packet in the memory; retrieving the second packet from the memory, processing the second packet with a second one of the service functions in the second group, and storing the second packet in the memory; and transferring the first packet and transferring the second packet from the communication network element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification