Source routed deterministic packet in a deterministic data network

A method comprising:

• deterministically receiving, by a network device in a deterministic data network, a source routed deterministic packet comprising a deterministic source-route header for reaching a destination network device in the deterministic data network via specified unused hops, the deterministic data network requiring guaranteed delivery of the source routed deterministic packet to the destination network device within a bounded time, the deterministic source-route header providing the guaranteed delivery within the bounded time, the deterministic source-route header specifying, for each specified unused hop, a corresponding deterministic start time for initiating transmission of the source routed deterministic packet by a corresponding network device specified in the corresponding specified unused hop;
• and
• deterministically transmitting, by the network device, the source routed deterministic packet at the corresponding deterministic start time specified for the network device in the deterministic source-route header to a next-hop network device specified as a next hop in the deterministic source-route header, for deterministic forwarding of the source routed deterministic packet toward the destination network device, without prior installation of any deterministic schedule in the network device, the next-hop network device, or any network devices along the specified unused hops between the network device and the destination network device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a device interface circuit configured for receiving, in a deterministic data network from a management device, one or more deterministic schedules for reaching a destination network device along one or more deterministic paths in the deterministic data network, the deterministic data network requiring guaranteed delivery of a data packet to the destination network device within a bounded time, the one or more deterministic schedules providing the guaranteed delivery along the one or more deterministic paths within the bounded time;
• and
• a processor circuit configured for generating a deterministic source-route header specifying specified hops for reaching the destination network device based on the one or more deterministic schedules allocated for the one or more deterministic paths, the deterministic source-route header specifying, for each specified hop, a corresponding deterministic start time for initiating transmission of a source routed deterministic packet by a corresponding network device specified in the corresponding specified hop;
• the processor circuit further configured for inserting, into the source routed deterministic packet, the deterministic source-route header specifying for each specified hop the corresponding deterministic start time;
• the processor circuit further configured for causing the device interface circuit to transmit, into the deterministic data network, to a next-hop network device specified as a next hop in the deterministic source-route header, the source routed deterministic packet comprising the deterministic source-route header for deterministic forwarding of the source routed deterministic packet to the destination network device, without prior installation of the one or more deterministic schedules in any network devices along the one or more deterministic paths between the apparatus and the destination network device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a device interface circuit configured for deterministically receiving, in a deterministic data network, a source routed deterministic packet comprising a deterministic source-route header for reaching a destination network device in the deterministic data network via specified unused hops, the deterministic data network requiring guaranteed delivery of the source routed deterministic packet to the destination network device within a bounded time, the deterministic source-route header providing the guaranteed delivery within the bounded time, the deterministic source-route header specifying, for each specified unused hop, a corresponding deterministic start time for initiating transmission of the source routed deterministic packet by a corresponding network device specified in the corresponding specified unused hop;
• and
• a processor circuit configured for causing the device interface circuit to deterministically transmit the source routed deterministic packet at the corresponding deterministic start time specified for the apparatus in the deterministic source-route header to a next-hop network device specified as a next hop in the deterministic source-route header, for deterministic forwarding of the source routed deterministic packet toward the destination network device, without prior installation of any deterministic schedule in the apparatus, the next-hop network device, or any network devices along the specified unused hops between the network device and the destination network device.

One or more non-transitory tangible media encoded with logic for execution by a machine and when executed by the machine operable for:

• receiving, by the machine implemented as a network device in a deterministic data network from a management device, one or more deterministic schedules for reaching a destination network device along one or more deterministic paths in the deterministic data network, the deterministic data network requiring guaranteed delivery of a data packet to the destination network device within a bounded time, the one or more deterministic schedules providing the guaranteed delivery along the one or more deterministic paths within the bounded time;
• generating, by the network device, a deterministic source-route header specifying specified hops for reaching the destination network device based on the one or more deterministic schedules allocated for the one or more deterministic paths, the deterministic source-route header specifying, for each specified hop, a corresponding deterministic start time for initiating transmission of a source routed deterministic packet by a corresponding network device specified in the corresponding specified hop;
• inserting, into the source routed deterministic packet, the deterministic source-route header specifying for each specified hop the corresponding deterministic start time;
• and
• transmitting into the deterministic data network to a next-hop network device specified as a next hop in the deterministic source-route header, by the network device, the source routed deterministic packet comprising the deterministic source-route header for deterministic forwarding of the source routed deterministic packet to the destination network device, without prior installation of the one or more deterministic schedules in any network devices along the one or more deterministic paths between the network device and the destination network device.

One or more non-transitory tangible media encoded with logic for execution by a machine and when executed by the machine operable for:

• deterministically receiving, by the machine implemented as a network device in a deterministic data network, a source routed deterministic packet comprising a deterministic source-route header for reaching a destination network device in the deterministic data network via specified unused hops, the deterministic data network requiring guaranteed delivery of the source routed deterministic packet to the destination network device within a bounded time, the deterministic source-route header providing the guaranteed delivery within the bounded time, the deterministic source-route header specifying, for each specified unused hop, a corresponding deterministic start time for initiating transmission of the source routed deterministic packet by a corresponding network device specified in the corresponding specified unused hop;
• and
• deterministically transmitting, by the network device, the source routed deterministic packet at the corresponding deterministic start time specified for the network device in the deterministic source-route header to a next-hop network device specified as a next hop in the deterministic source-route header, for deterministic forwarding of the source routed deterministic packet toward the destination network device, without prior installation of any deterministic schedule in the network device, the next-hop network device, or any network devices along the specified unused hops between the network device and the destination network device.