Method for service chaining in a communication network
First Claim
1. A method of processing packet data in a communication network, comprising at least a first network node, the method comprising:
- receiving a first packet at said first network node;
assigning in said first network node a chain comprising at least two logical service entities for said first packet based on at least one service determination rule;
forming a data unit comprising at least part of said first packet; and
processing said data unit in at least one logical service entity in said chain.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method, system, network node and computer program for processing packet data in a communication network, which comprises at least a first network node. In the method a first packet is received at the first network node. In the first network node is assigned for the first packet a chain comprising at least two logical service entities based on at least one service determination rule. A data unit comprising at least part of the first packet is formed. The data unit is processed in at least one logical service entity in the chain and a second packet is transmitted from the first network node comprising data sent by at least one logical service entity in the chain. The benefits of the invention relate to improved flexibility in introducing new value-added service for packet data and improved performance in the first network node.
268 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of processing packet data in a communication network, comprising at least a first network node, the method comprising:
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receiving a first packet at said first network node;
assigning in said first network node a chain comprising at least two logical service entities for said first packet based on at least one service determination rule;
forming a data unit comprising at least part of said first packet; and
processing said data unit in at least one logical service entity in said chain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. A system comprising at least a first network node, the system further comprising:
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a receiving entity in said first network node configured to receive a first packet;
an assigning entity in said first network node configured to assign a chain comprising at least a first logical service entity and a second logical service entity for said first packet;
a service chain control entity configured to form a data unit comprising at least part of said first packet;
said first logical service entity configured to process said data unit and to form a second data unit; and
said second logical service entity configured to process said second data unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A network node comprising:
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a receiving entity in said first network node configured to receive a first packet;
an assigning entity in said first network node configured to assign a chain comprising at least a first logical service entity and a second logical service entity for said first packet; and
a service chain control entity configured to form a data unit comprising at least part of said first packet, to pass said data unit to said first logical service entity and to pass a second data unit received from said first logical service entity to said second logical service entity.
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28. A computer program comprising code adapted to perform the following steps when executed on a data-processing system:
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receiving a first packet at said first network node;
assigning in said first network node a chain comprising at least two logical service entities for said first packet based on at least one service determination rule;
forming a data unit comprising at least part of said first packet; and
processing said data unit in at least one logical service entity in said chain. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification