Outside-scope identifier-equipped routing methods, systems, and computer program products

An apparatus, comprising:

• a current node configured to be positioned in a first region of a network in a network path along which first data is transmitted from a transmitting node to a receiving node which are both in the network path, the current node including:
• at least one non-transitory memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors in communication with the at least one non-transitory memory, wherein the one or more processors is configured to execute the instructions to cause the current node to:
• receive a first packet that is specified according to an Internet Protocol (IP) network protocol;
• identify, using a header of the first packet:
• a destination IP address that identifies the receiving node, and
• a first outside-scope identifier that does not specifically identify a network interface, the first outside-scope identifier being in a first identifier space having a scope that spans the first region of the network, the first outside-scope identifier identifying, in the first region of the network, a second region that at least partially includes a path node included in a first path segment that includes the current node and the receiving node;
• and
• based on the destination IP address and the first outside-scope identifier, transmit, via the first path segment, the first data from the current node to a network interface of the path node, wherein the first path segment is selected, based on at least one of a first policy, a table, or a metric, from a plurality of path segments, including at least one multi-hop path segment, that are capable of communicatively coupling the current node and the network interface of the path node.

A method, comprising:

• at a particular node positioned in a first region and further positioned in a network path along which first data is transmitted from a transmitting node to a receiving node which are both in the network path:
• receiving a first packet that is specified according to an Internet Protocol (IP) network protocol;
• identifying, using a header of the first packet:
• a destination IP address that identifies the receiving node, and
• a first outside-scope identifier that does not include a network interface identifier, the first outside-scope identifier being in a first identifier space having a scope that spans the first region of the network, the first outside-scope identifier globally identifying, in the first region of the network, a second region that at least partially includes a path node included in a first path segment that includes the particular node and the receiving node;
• and
• based on the destination IP address and the first outside-scope identifier, transmitting, via the first path segment, the first data from the particular node to a network interface of the path node, wherein the first path segment is selected, based on at least one of a first policy, a table, or a metric, from a plurality of path segments, including at least one multi-hop path segment, that are capable of communicatively coupling the particular node and the network interface of the path node.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving a first packet that is specified according to an Internet Protocol (IP) network protocol, at a current node positioned in a first region of a network and further positioned in a network path along which first data is transmitted from a transmitting node to a receiving node which are both in the network path, the first packet including a header configured for being used to identify:
• a destination IP address that identifies the receiving node, and
• a first outside-scope identifier that does not include a network interface identifier, the first outside-scope identifier being in a first identifier space having a scope that spans the first region of the network, the first outside-scope identifier identifying, in the first region of the network, a second region that at least partially includes a path node included in a first path segment that includes the current node and the receiving node;
• and
• means for transmitting, based on the destination IP address and the first outside-scope identifier, the first data from the current node to a network interface of the path node via the first path segment, wherein the first path segment is selected, based on at least one of a first policy, a table, or a metric, from a plurality of path segments, including at least one multi-hop path segment, that are capable of communicatively coupling the current node and the network interface of the path node.

A method, comprising:

• performing at least one act to cause a current node, that is configured to be positioned in a first region of a network along a network path including a transmitting node and a receiving node, to:
• receive an indication of a receipt of a first packet that is specified according to an Internet Protocol (IP) network protocol;
• identify, using a header of the first packet, network path information that is based on a first policy and includes:
• a destination IP address that identifies the receiving node, and
• a first outside-scope identifier without any network interface identifier portion that identifies any network interface, the first outside-scope identifier being in a first identifier space having a scope that spans only the first region of the network, the first outside-scope identifier identifying, for the first region of the network, a second region that at least partially includes a path node included in a first path segment that includes the current node and the receiving node;
• and
• using the destination IP address and the first outside-scope identifier of the network path information, cause transmission, via the first path segment, of first data from the current node to a network interface of the path node, wherein the first path segment is selected, based on at least one of the first policy, a table, or a metric, from a plurality of path segments, including at least one multi-hop path segment, that are capable of communicatively coupling the current node and the network interface of the path node;
• and
• causing storage of a result of the at least one act on at least one non-transitory memory.