Enhanced service function chain
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsMuhammad Bilal Anwer, Yulong Zhou, Bo Han, David Mahar, Michael Satterlee, Vijay Gopalakrishnan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Network function may be dissected and the common functions abstracted into inspection network function as the first hop, for example, of a service function chain. The inspection network function then inserts a value into the network service header (NSH) which may be used for the rest of the network functions of the service function chain.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
- detecting a packet;
- processing the packet by a deep packet inspection network function (DPI-NF) of a service function chain,
- wherein the DPI-NF comprises a plurality of modules,
- wherein the plurality modules are common modules for a plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain;
- based on the processing of the DPI-NF, appending a network service header to the packet;
- and
- based on the network service header, performing actions by each subsequent virtual network function of the plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain without executing the common modules for the plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain.
A method comprising:
- detecting, by an apparatus, a packet;
- processing the packet by a deep packet inspection network function (DPI-NF) of a service function chain,
- wherein the DPI-NF comprises a plurality of modules,
- wherein the plurality modules are common modules for a plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain;
- based on the processing of the DPI-NF, appending a network service header to the packet;
- and
- based on the network service header, performing actions by each subsequent virtual network function of the plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain without executing the common modules for the plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain.
A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause said computing device to effectuate operations comprising:
- detecting a packet;
- processing the packet by a deep packet inspection network function (DPI-NF) of a service function chain,
- wherein the DPI-NF comprises a plurality of modules,
- wherein the plurality modules are common modules for a plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain;
- based on the processing of the DPI-NF, appending a network service header to the packet;
- and
- based on the network service header, performing actions by each subsequent virtual network function of the plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain without executing the common modules for the plurality of virtual network functions of the service function chain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.