Using packet duplication with encapsulation in a packet-switched network to increase reliability
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorPaul John Tillotson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques and solutions for performing packet duplication in a packet-switched network are described. For example, duplicates of a network packet can be created and sent to a destination via different network paths. Packet duplication can be performed by a computer that is creating and sending network packets. Packet duplication can also be performed by another type of computing device such as a router that receives network packets and creates duplicates that are then sent to the destination via different network paths. Network packets can be encapsulated using encapsulation packets that include network path indicators that indicate use of different network paths. Multiple copies of a network packet can be received and processed.
Claims20
A method, implemented at least in part by a sending host, for performing packet duplication in an Internet protocol (IP) packet-switched network, the method comprising:
- obtaining a network packet to be sent from the sending host to a destination host;
- creating a first encapsulating network packet comprising:
- a first copy of the network packet;
- and
- a first network path indicator;
- creating a second encapsulating network packet comprising:
- a second copy of the network packet;
- and
- a second network path indicator;
- sending the first encapsulating network packet to the destination host via the IP packet-switched network;
- and
- sending the second encapsulating network packet to the destination host via the IP packet-switched network;
- wherein the first copy of the network packet and the second copy of the network packet are duplicates of the network packet, wherein the first and second encapsulating network packets contain different network path indicators, and wherein the first network path indicator specifies a different network path within the IP packet-switched network, between the sending host and the destination host, from the second network path indicator.
A computing device implementing a network router, the computing device comprising:
- one or more processing units;
- and
- one or more network interfaces;
- the computing device configured to performing operations for managing duplicate packets in an Internet protocol (IP) packet-switched network, the operations comprising:
- receiving a first encapsulating network packet comprising:
- a first copy of a network packet being sent from a sending host to a destination host;
- and
- a first network path indicator;
- receiving a second encapsulating network packet comprising:
- a second copy of the network packet being sent from the sending host to the destination host, wherein the second copy of the network packet is a duplicate of the first copy of the network packet;
- and
- a second network path indicator;
- wherein the first and second encapsulating network packets contain different network path indicators;
- sending the first encapsulating network packet to the destination host via a first network path within the IP packet-switched network;
- and
- sending the second encapsulating network packet to the destination host via a second network path within the IP packet-switched network different from the first network path.
A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a destination host to perform a method for receiving duplicate packets in an Internet protocol (IP) packet-switched network, the method comprising:
- receiving at least one of:
- a first encapsulating network packet comprising:
- a first copy of a network packet being sent to the destination host;
- and
- a first network path indicator stored in header information of the first encapsulating network packet;
- and
- a second encapsulating network packet comprising:
- a second copy of the network packet being sent to the destination host, wherein the second copy of the network packet is a duplicate of the first copy of the network packet;
- and
- a second network path indicator stored in header information of the second encapsulating network packet;
- wherein the first and second encapsulating network packets contain different network path indicators, and wherein the second network path indicator specifies a different network path within the IP packet-switched network than the first network path indicator;
- obtaining the network packet by extracting at least one of the first copy of the network packet and the second copy of the network packet;
- and
- processing the obtained network packet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.