Shortening of service paths in service chains in a communications network
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving at a network element a flow offload decision for a first service node comprising a portion of a service chain for processing a flow;
recording the flow offload decision against the first service node at the network element;
propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs when the first service node is hosted at the network element; and
propagating the flow offload decision backward on the service path to which the flow belongs when the flow offload decision is a propagated flow offload decision and;
the network element hosts a second service node that immediately precedes the first service node; and
the flow offload decision has already been received by the network element for the second service node.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving at a network element a flow offload decision for a first service node that includes a portion of a service chain for processing a flow; recording the flow offload decision against the first service node at the network element; and propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs if the first service node is hosted at the network element. Embodiments may also include propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs if the flow offload decision is a propagated flow offload decision and the network element hosts a second service node that immediately precedes the service node on behalf of which the propagated flow offload decision was received and a flow offload decision has already been received by the network element from the second service node.
78 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
receiving at a network element a flow offload decision for a first service node comprising a portion of a service chain for processing a flow; recording the flow offload decision against the first service node at the network element; propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs when the first service node is hosted at the network element; and propagating the flow offload decision backward on the service path to which the flow belongs when the flow offload decision is a propagated flow offload decision and; the network element hosts a second service node that immediately precedes the first service node; and
the flow offload decision has already been received by the network element for the second service node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. One or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations, comprising:
-
receiving at a network element a flow offload decision for a first service node comprising a portion of a service chain for processing a flow; recording the flow offload decision against the first service node at the network element; propagating the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs when the first service node is hosted at the network element; and
propagating the flow offload decision backward on the service path to which the flow belongs when the flow offload decision is a propagated flow offload decision and;
the network element hosts a second service node that immediately precedes the service node on behalf of which the propagated flow offload decision was received; and
the flow offload decision has already been received by the network element from the second service node. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An apparatus, comprising:
- a memory element configured to store data;
a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data; and
a service path shortening module configured to;
receive at a network element a flow offload decision for a first service node comprising a portion of a service chain for processing a flow;
record the flow offload decision against the first service node at the network element;
propagate the flow offload decision backward on a service path to which the flow belongs when the first service node is hosted at the network element; and
propagate the flow offload decision backward on the service path to which the flow belongs when the flow offload decision is a propagated flow offload decision and;
the network element hosts a second service node that immediately precedes the service node on behalf of which the propagated flow offload decision was received; and
the flow offload decision has already been received by the network element from the second service node. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
- a memory element configured to store data;
Specification