Methods and network nodes for traffic steering based on per-flow policies
First Claim
1. A method for redirecting a traffic flow of an end-user in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the method comprising:
- receiving a message from a service network node, the message including a traffic characteristic information of at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user;
in response to receiving the message, creating a set of rules based on the received traffic characteristic information of the at least first packet of the traffic flow; and
sending the set of rules to a plurality of switches in the communication network, the set of rules indicating a second service chain for subsequent packets of the traffic flow to traverse while the at least first packet of the traffic flow traverses the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain.
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Abstract
A method for redirecting a traffic flow in a communication network, in which a first or default service path has been configured for the traffic flow to go through is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a notification message from a network node, the notification message including a traffic characteristic information of a packet of the traffic flow; creating a set of rules based on the received traffic characteristic information; and sending the set of rules to a plurality of switches in the communication network, the set of rules configuring a second or alternative service path to be used by subsequent packets of this traffic flow. Also, a network node for carrying out this method is provided.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for redirecting a traffic flow of an end-user in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the method comprising:
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receiving a message from a service network node, the message including a traffic characteristic information of at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user; in response to receiving the message, creating a set of rules based on the received traffic characteristic information of the at least first packet of the traffic flow; and sending the set of rules to a plurality of switches in the communication network, the set of rules indicating a second service chain for subsequent packets of the traffic flow to traverse while the at least first packet of the traffic flow traverses the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network node for redirecting a traffic flow of an end-user in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the network node comprising:
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a communication interface for receiving a message from a service network node, the message including traffic characteristic information of at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user; and a processor operationally connected to the communication interface and configured to create a set of rules based on the received traffic characteristic information of the at least first packet of the traffic flow; wherein the communication interface further sends the set of rules to a plurality of switches in the communication network, the set of rules indicating a second service chain to for subsequent packets of the traffic flow to traverse while the at least first packet of the traffic flow traverses the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for redirecting a traffic flow of an end-user in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the method comprising:
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receiving a set of rules from a network node, the set of rules being created based on a traffic characteristic information from at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user, the set of rules defining a second service chain for the traffic flow to go through; receiving subsequent packets of the traffic flow; and redirecting the received packets to follow the second service chain as defined by the set of rules, while the at least first packet follows the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain.
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23. A switch for redirecting a traffic flow of an end-user in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the switch comprising:
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a first communication interface for receiving a set of rules from a network node, the set of rules being created based on a traffic characteristic information extracted from at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user, the set of rules defining a second service chain for the traffic flow to go through; a second communication interface for receiving subsequent packets of the traffic flow; and a processor operationally connected to the first and second communication interfaces, the processor configured to; redirect the received packets to follow the second service chain as defined by the set of rules, while the at least first packet follows the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain.
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24. A method for triggering redirection of an end-user traffic flow in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the method comprising:
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receiving at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user; inspecting the received at least first packet to obtain a traffic characteristic; and sending to a network node the traffic characteristic for the traffic flow so that the network node can create a set of rules based on the traffic characteristic, the set of rules defining a second service chain for subsequent packets of the traffic flow to go through, while the at least first packet follows the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A service network node for triggering redirection of an end-user traffic flow in a communication network, in which a first service chain has been configured for the traffic flow to go through, the service network node comprising:
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a communication interface for receiving at least a first packet of the traffic flow of the end-user; and a processor operationally connected to the communication interface and configured for inspecting the received at least first packet to obtain a traffic characteristic; wherein the communication interface further sends to a network node the traffic characteristic for the traffic flow so that the network node can create a set of rules based on the traffic characteristic, the set of rules defining a second service chain for subsequent packets of the traffic flow to go through, while the at least first packet follows the first service chain, the second service chain comprising an ordered set of services provided by a plurality of service network nodes and the second service chain being different from the first service chain. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification