Control channel compression upon congestion detection

A node in a network, the node connected to a controller via a control channel, the node comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor adapted, by the instructions, to:
• generate a control packet;
• detect congestion on a link in the control channel;
• compress the control packet to form a compressed control packet;
• and
• transmit the compressed control packet on the control channel.

A method of operating a first node in a network, the first node connected to a controller via a control channel that includes a link to a second node and a further link, the method comprising:

• receiving a notification indicating that congestion has been detected on the further link;
• generating a control packet;
• responsive to the receiving, compressing the control packet to form a compressed control packet;
• and
• transmitting the compressed control packet on the link to the second node.

A first node in a network, the first node connected to a controller via a control channel that includes a link to a second node and a further link, the first node comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor adapted, by the instructions, to:
• receive a notification indicating that congestion has been detected on the further link;
• generate a control packet;
• compress the control packet to form a compressed control packet;
• and
• transmit the compressed control packet on the link to the second node.

A method of managing for execution by a control node in a network, the network having a plurality of nodes connected by a plurality of links, the method comprising:

• receiving, from nodes among the plurality of nodes, congestion notifications for associated links among the plurality of links;
• updating a count of cases of congestion in the network;
• and
• responsive to determining that the count of cases of congestion exceeds a threshold, transmitting a control packet to a given node among the plurality of nodes, where the control packet contains instructions to the given node to implement compression on outgoing control packets.

A software defined networking controller in a network, the network having a plurality of nodes connected by a plurality of links, the software defined networking controller comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor adapted, by the instructions, to:
• receive, from nodes among the plurality of nodes, congestion notifications for associated links among the plurality of links;
• update a count of cases of congestion in the network;
• and
• transmit a control packet to a given node among the plurality of nodes, where the control packet contains instructions to the given node to implement compression on outgoing control packets.