Methods and apparatus for encoding local processing metadata in network headers

A method of a transit network node, comprising:

• receiving a packet from a network node traversing a route through a network to a destination address, wherein a header of the packet includes the route to the destination address in a destination address field and local processing information associated with at least one local processing function, wherein the at least one local processing function that is associated with the local processing information is to be performed locally at the transit network node, wherein the local processing information;
• identifying, from the local processing information, a slice identifier and entropy bit, the slice identifier identifies packet treatment and entropy bits for load balancing;
• modifying the header of the packet to remove an address of the network node receiving the packet;
• determining that the local processing information is associated with the at least one local processing function for the transit network node to perform;
• perform the at least one local processing function identified in the local processing information, wherein the at least one local processing function at least includes configuring the transit network node to transmit the packet according the slice identifier;
• and
• after performing the at least one local processing function, forwarding the packet with the local processing information to a next node identified in the packet.

A network device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive a packet from a source device that is to be delivered to a destination address through a network;
• determine a route to the destination address through at least one network node of the network;
• identify, from local processing information, a slice identifier and entropy bits, the slice identifier identifies packet treatment and the entropy bits for load balancing;
• encapsulate the packet, wherein a header of the encapsulated packet includes the route to the destination address in a destination address field and the local processing information, wherein the local processing information includes the slice identifier and the entropy bits, and the local processing information is associated with at least one local processing function to be performed locally at the at least one network node of the route;
• forward the encapsulated packet to a next network node of the network identified in the destination address;
• and
• perform the at least one local processing function in the local processing information.