Recursive bitstring structure addressing

A network element, comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• at least one processor in communication with the memory, the at least one processor configured, upon execution of the instructions, to perform the following steps:
• receive a packet, the packet comprising a payload and an addressing header with a recursive bitstring (RBS) structure, the RBS structure comprising:
• a recursive unit (RU) of the network element, the RU comprising a forwarding bitstring field configured to indicate one or more other network elements to which to forward the payload, and one or more additional RUs, each additional RU of the one or more additional RUs comprising a forwarding bitstring field indicating how the one or more other network elements should forward the payload;
• and
• one or more RU locating fields, the one or more RU locating fields indicating a location within the RU of the network element and the one or more additional RUs;
• and
• forward the packet according to the forwarding bitstring field in the RU of the network element, the forwarded packet comprising rewritten RU locating fields indicating a location within the RU of an RU of a subsequent network element.

A non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions that configure at least one processor, upon execution of the instructions, to perform the following steps:

• receive a packet, the packet comprising a payload and an addressing header with a recursive bitstring (RBS) structure, the RBS structure comprising:
• a recursive unit (RU) of a network element, the RU comprising a forwarding bitstring field configured to indicate one or more other network elements to which to forward the payload, and one or more additional RUs, each additional RU of the one or more additional RUs comprising a forwarding bitstring field indicating how the one or more other network elements should forward the payload;
• and
• one or more RU locating fields, the one or more RU locating fields indicating a location within the RU of the network element and the one or more additional RUs;
• and
• forward the packet according to the forwarding bitstring field in the RU of the network element, the forwarded packet comprising rewritten RU locating fields indicating a location within the RU of an RU of a subsequent network element.