System and method for providing smart grid communications and management

• US 9,634,850 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taft, Jeffrey D., Yadav, Navindra
• Primary Examiner(s): RENNER, BRANDON M
• Application Number:
  US14/837,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20150365245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. 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, wherein the directing further comprises;

receiving at least one packet of the PMU data appended with a service insertion architecture (SIA) context;

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

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

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

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

classifying the PMU data to determine a service classification for the PMU data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

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

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the appending further comprises including the service classification within the SIA context associated with the one or more packets of the PMU data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

7. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution by a processor, wherein the execution causes the processor 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, wherein the directing further comprises;

receiving at least one packet of the PMU data appended with a service insertion architecture (SIA) context;

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

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

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

8. The logic of claim 7, wherein the execution causes the processor to perform further operations comprising:

classifying the PMU data to determine a service classification for the PMU data.

9. The logic of claim 8, wherein the execution causes the processor to perform further operations comprising:

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

10. The logic of claim 9, wherein the appending further comprises including the service classification within the SIA context associated with the one or more packets of the PMU data.

11. The logic of claim 7, wherein the execution causes the processor to perform further operations comprising:

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

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

12. The logic of claim 7, wherein the execution causes the processor to perform further operations comprising:

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

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, wherein executing the instructions causes the apparatus 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, wherein the directing further comprises;

receiving at least one packet of the PMU data appended with a service insertion architecture (SIA) context;

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

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

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

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein executing the instructions causes the apparatus to perform further operations comprising:

classifying the PMU data to determine a service classification for the PMU data.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

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

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the appending further comprises including the service classification within an SIA context associated with the one or more packets of the PMU data.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein executing the instructions causes the apparatus to perform further operations comprising:

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

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