# US 10,873,528 B2 · Packet forwarding method and device utilizing the same

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- Number: US 10,873,528 B2
- Document ID: US10873528B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/199,173
- Filed: 2018-11-24
- Published: 2020-05-28
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-24
- Assignees: Nanning Fugui Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Nanning Fugui Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Chih-Chin Chang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873528B2

## CPC

- H04L 69/22: Parsing or analysis of headers
- H04L 12/4633: {Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling}
- H04L 12/4645: {Details on frame tagging (routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354)}
- H04L 45/306: {Route determination based on the nature of the carried application}
- H04L 45/38: {Flow based routing}
- H04L 45/54: {Organization of routing tables}
- H04L 45/64: using an overlay routing layer
- H04L 65/80: Responding to QoS
- H04L 47/2441: relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
- H04L 2212/00: Encapsulation of packets
- H04N 21/4665: {involving classification methods, e.g. Decision trees}
- H04W 40/00: Communication routing or communication path finding
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A packet forwarding method. The method reacts to service function events promptly by recalculating a more streamlined service function path (SFP) for a packet flow of a service function chain (SFC). Service functions (SFs) and service function forwarders (SFFs) collaborate to serve a SFC packet flow and bypass SFs belonging to the same SF group which does not provides functional service to packets of the flow.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A packet forwarding method executable by an electronic device, comprising:
receiving a first packet classified for a service function path (SFP) at a first service function (SF) in the service function path;
determining whether a bypass event associated with the first packet and the first service function is detected;
inserting group information of the first service function into a header of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected;
transmitting the first packet comprising the group information to a service function forwarder (SFF); and
modifying a service index in the service function chain encapsulation of the first packet to bypass one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the first packet comprises the group information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The packet forwarding method of claim 1, wherein the first service function and the one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path belong to a same service function group.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The packet forwarding method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the header of the first packet comprises:
modifying the header of the first packet to bypass a subsequent service function forwarder connecting the one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected.

### Claim 4

A packet forwarding device, comprising:
a memory operable to store a sensitive detector module;
a processor operable to load the sensitive detector module and perform a packet forwarding method comprising:
receiving a first packet classified for a service function path (SFP) at a first service function (SF) in the service function path;
determining whether a bypass event associated with the first packet and the first service function is detected;
inserting group information of the first service function into a header of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected;
transmitting the first packet comprising the group information to a service function forwarder (SFF); and
modifying a service index in the service function chain encapsulation of the first packet to bypass one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the first packet comprises the group information.