Network service functions api
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsAvinash Lingala, Saud Asif, Sunil Maloo, James Uttaro, Kevin D'Souza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, specification of network service functions (e.g., a firewall or network address translation appliance) to be included in a service function path. Routers in a communication network may publish information regarding reachable network service functions and an API may be exposed that provides the information regarding the reachable network service functions. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Claims23
A device, comprising:
- a processing system including a processor;
- and
- a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
- receiving a first list of network service functions reachable by a first router in a first geographical location;
- receiving a second list of network service functions reachable by a second router in a second geographical location;
- exposing the first list of network service functions and the second list of network service functions through an application programming interface (API);
- receiving, through the API, a customer request for routing data traffic through at least one network service function of the first list of network service functions and the second list of network service functions;
- in response to the customer request, building a service function path that includes the at least one network service function, resulting in a built service function path;
- providing a classifier corresponding to the built service function path that includes the at least one network service function to the first router and the second router, and
- routing data traffic according to the classifier corresponding to the built service function path.
2-3. (canceled)
A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
- receiving a first list of network service functions reachable by a first router in a first geographical location;
- receiving a second list of network service functions reachable by a second router in a second geographical location;
- exposing the first list of network service functions and the second list of network service functions through an application programming interface (API);
- receiving, through the API, a customer request for routing data traffic through at least one network service function of the first list of network service functions and the second list of network service functions;
- in response to the customer request, building a service function path that includes the at least one network service function, resulting in a built service function path;
- adding information to data traffic, wherein the added information corresponds to the built service function path that includes the at least one network service function;
- and
- routing data traffic including the added information corresponding to the built service function path.
11-12. (canceled)
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a first list of network service functions reachable by a first router in a first geographical location;
- receiving, by the processing system, a second list of network service functions reachable by a second router in a second geographical location;
- exposing, by the processing system, the first list of network service functions and the second list of network service functions through an application programming interface (API);
- receiving, by the processing system, through the API, a customer request for routing data traffic through at least one network service function of the first list of network service functions and the second list of network service functions;
- in response to the customer request, building a service function path that includes the at least one network service function, resulting in a built service function path;
- generating a classifier corresponding to the built service function path that includes the at least one network service function to the first router and the second router, and
- routing data traffic according to the classifier corresponding to the built service function path.
17-18. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.