Indirect integration of network connected devices into service function chains

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface unit configured to communicate with a plurality of network connected devices;
• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to:
• receive a service function chain packet that is encapsulated into a service header, wherein the service header includes a request to obtain data from one or more of the plurality of network connected devices, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate as a proxy device to indirectly integrate the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices into a service function chain;
• obtain the data from the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices;
• modify the service function chain packet to include the data obtained from the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices;
• and
• send the service function chain packet that has been modified to include the data obtained from the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices along a service function chain.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media at a gateway device that is configured to operate as a network function in a service function chain and is connected to a plurality of network connected devices, wherein the computer readable storage media is encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a service function chain packet that is encapsulated into a service header, wherein the service header includes a request to obtain data from one or more of the plurality of network connected devices, wherein the gateway device is configured to operate as a proxy device to indirectly integrate the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices into the service function chain;
• obtain the data from the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices;
• modify the service function chain packet to include the data obtained from the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices;
• and
• send the service function chain packet that has been modified to include the data obtained from the one or more of the plurality of network connected devices along the service function chain.