Routing methods, systems, and computer program products

A non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network device, cause the network device to:

• receive, via a path segment selected by a previous node utilizing an outside scope identifier that identifies a network region in which the network device is a border node that is at least partially included the network region, a packet comprising a header including an operation portion and a parameter portion, wherein the operation portion and the parameter portion are included in the header at a location associated with the outside scope identifier to cause the network device, which is capable of performing a first operation identified by a first operation identifier in the operation portion, to perform the first operation utilizing data in the parameter portion;
• determine the first operation identifier in the operation portion;
• perform the first operation identified by the first operation identifier, wherein the performing the first operation comprises reading the data in the parameter portion and setting an indicator associated with network path information that identifies the outside scope identifier to identify a next outside scope identifier in the network path information, where the next outside scope identifier is associated with a next operation portion;
• and
• forward the packet to a subsequent network node indicated by a value in the data in the parameter portion, the value associated with the outside scope identifier in the network path information previously identified by the indicator.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network device 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 network device to:
• determine a command identifier that identifies an operation to be performed as a result of routing data from the network device toward a receiving node;
• locate a path node that:
• is capable of performing the operation, is included in a network path communicatively coupling the network device and the receiving node, and is a border node, the border node being at least partially in a network region identified by an outside scope identifier that is includable in path information configured for use in routing the data along the network path, the outside scope identifier configured to cause the path node to perform the operation as a result of routing the data along the network path, the network region being separate from another network region in which the receiving node at least partially resides, the path information further including at least one segment identifier that identifies at least one of:
• a network interface of the receiving node or the another network region in which the receiving node at least partially resides;
• select a path segment of the network path, utilizing the outside scope identifier;
• write, to a header of a packet, the command identifier in a location associated with the outside scope identifier, so as to be configured to cause the path node to perform the operation identified by the command identifier after the path node receives the data via the path segment selected utilizing the outside scope identifier;
• and
• transmit, via the path segment selected utilizing the outside scope identifier, the packet along the network path from the network device to the path node, thereby causing the path node to perform the operation identified by the command identifier.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network device 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 network device to:
• receive, via a path segment selected by a previous node utilizing an outside scope identifier that identifies a network region in which the network device is a border node that is at least partially included the network region, a packet comprising a header including an operation portion and a parameter portion, wherein the operation portion and the parameter portion are included in the header at a location associated with the outside scope identifier to cause the network device, which is capable of performing a first operation identified by a first operation identifier in the operation portion, to perform the first operation utilizing data in the parameter portion;
• determine the first operation identifier in the operation portion;
• perform the first operation identified by the first operation identifier, wherein the performing the first operation comprises reading the data in the parameter portion and setting an indicator associated with network path information that identifies the outside scope identifier to identify a next outside scope identifier in the network path information, where the next outside scope identifier is associated with a next operation portion;
• and
• forward the packet to a subsequent network node indicated by a value in the data in the parameter portion, the value associated with the outside scope identifier in the network path information previously identified by the indicator.

A method, comprising:

• performing at least one act to cause a network device to:
• determine a command identifier that identifies an operation to be performed as a result of routing data from the network device toward a receiving node,
• locate a path node that:
• performs the operation identified by the command identifier, is included in a network path communicatively coupling the network device and the receiving node, and is a border node, the border node being at least partially in a network region identified by an outside scope identifier that is includable in path information configured for use in routing the data along the network path, the outside scope identifier causing the path node to perform the operation identified by the command identifier as a result of routing the data along the network path, the network region being separate from another network region in which the receiving node at least partially resides, the path information further including at least one segment identifier that identifies at least one of:
• a network interface of the receiving node or the another network region in which the receiving node at least partially resides,
• select a path segment of the network path, utilizing the outside scope identifier,
• write, to a header of a packet, the command identifier in a location associated with the outside scope identifier, so as to cause the path node to perform the operation identified by the command identifier after the path node receives the data via the path segment selected utilizing the outside scope identifier, and
• transmit, via the path segment selected utilizing the outside scope identifier, the packet along the network path from the network device to the path node, thereby causing the path node to perform the operation identified by the command identifier;
• and
• causing storage of a result of the at least one act on a non-transitory computer-readable media.

A method, comprising:

• performing at least one act to cause a network device to:
• receive, via a path segment selected by a previous node utilizing an outside scope identifier that identifies a network region in which the network device is a border node that is at least partially included the network region, a packet comprising a header including an operation portion and a parameter portion, wherein the operation portion and the parameter portion are included in the header at a location associated with the outside scope identifier to cause the network device, which performs a first operation identified by a first operation identifier in the operation portion, to perform the first operation utilizing data in the parameter portion,
• determine the first operation identifier in the operation portion,
• perform the first operation identified by the first operation identifier, wherein the performing the first operation comprises reading the data in the parameter portion and setting an indicator associated with network path information that identifies the outside scope identifier to identify a next outside scope identifier in the network path information, where the next outside scope identifier is associated with a next operation portion, and
• forward the packet to a subsequent network node indicated by a value in the data in the parameter portion, the value associated with the outside scope identifier in the network path information previously identified by the indicator;
• and
• causing storage of a result of the at least one act on a non-transitory computer-readable media.