Systems, Apparatuses and Methods for Network Packet Management

A method of managing packets, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a routing device comprising a plurality of interfaces, a first packet of a plurality of packets comprising a target address field and a source address field, wherein the routing device is communicatively coupled to a plurality of devices via the plurality of interfaces;
• generating, by the routing device, a modified first packet further comprising a packet identifier field including a packet identifier;
• generating, by the routing device, at least a first and a second fragment from the modified first packet, wherein the at least first and second fragments each comprise a subset of the modified first packet and whereby the modified first packet is capable of being reassembled from the at least first and second fragments, and wherein the at least first and second fragments each comprise a packet identifier field having a same packet identifier as the modified first packet;
• generating, by the routing device, at least one fragment-copy of the first fragment, wherein the at least one fragment-copy of the first fragment comprises a packet identifier field having a same packet identifier as the first fragment;
• generating, by the routing device, at least one fragment-copy of the second fragment, wherein the at least one fragment-copy of the second fragment comprises a packet identifier field having a same packet identifier as the second fragment;
• and
• transmitting, by the routing device, the first fragment, the at least one fragment-copy of the first fragment, the second fragment and the at least one fragment copy of the second fragment to a target device.

A routing device comprising:

• a plurality of interfaces, wherein the routing device is communicatively coupled to a plurality of devices via the plurality of interfaces;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a first packet of a plurality of packets comprising a target address field and a source address field;
• generate a modified first packet further comprising a packet identifier field including a packet identifier;
• generate at least a first and a second fragment from the modified first packet, wherein the at least first and second fragments each comprise a subset of the modified first packet and whereby the modified first packet is capable of being reassembled from the at least first and second fragments, and wherein the at least first and second fragments each comprise a packet identifier field having a same packet identifier as the modified first packet;
• generate at least one fragment-copy of the first fragment, wherein the at least one fragment-copy of the first fragment comprises a packet identifier field having a same packet identifier as the first fragment;
• generate at least one fragment-copy of the second fragment, wherein the at least one fragment-copy of the second fragment comprises a packet identifier field having a same packet identifier as the second fragment;
• and
• transmit the first fragment, the at least one fragment-copy of the first fragment, the second fragment and the at least one fragment copy of the second fragment to a target device.

A method of assembling a packet from a plurality of fragments, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a routing device, from a source device at least a first and a second fragment, wherein each respective fragment of the at least first and second fragments comprises a first field indicating that the respective fragment is associated with the packet, and one or more fields including information necessary to assemble the packet;
• receiving, by the routing device, from the source device at least one copy of the first fragment and at least one copy of the second fragment;
• and
• assembling, by the routing device, the packet from a subset of the at least first fragment, the at least second fragment, the at least one copy of the first fragment, and the at least one copy of the second fragment.

A routing device comprising:

• a first interface configured to communicate with a source device;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive at least a first and a second fragment, wherein each respective fragment of the at least first and second fragments comprises a first field indicating that the respective fragment is associated with a packet, and one or more fields including information necessary to assemble the packet;
• receive at least one copy of the first fragment and at least one copy of the second fragment;
• and
• assemble the packet from a subset of the at least first fragment, the at least second fragment, the at least one copy of the first fragment, and the at least one copy of the second fragment.