AP Packet Decapsulation to Avoid GRE-CAPWAP Double Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in packet transmission due to double encapsulation through GRE and CAPWAP protocols between CPE and AC via an AP, leading to reduced network performance.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a GRE tunnel between CPE and AP, and a CAPWAP tunnel between AP and AC, with the AP performing single-layer encapsulation based on a target identifier to bypass double encapsulation, thereby improving transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If double encapsulation (GRE and CAPWAP) is performed for packet transmission between CPE and AC via AP, then network authentication functionality is achieved, but packet transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the GRE encapsulation layer from the double encapsulation process by establishing a GRE tunnel directly between CPE and AC, removing the unnecessary intermediate encapsulation step while preserving the essential authentication functionality through CAPWAP tunneling
Solution Approach 2:
The AP is given dual functionality: it maintains its native CAPWAP tunneling capability for communication with AC while simultaneously supporting GRE tunnel encapsulation/decapsulation to forward packets from CPE, allowing a single device to handle multiple protocol requirements without adding encapsulation layers
2Productivity
If GRE tunnel is established between CPE and AC directly, then packet transmission efficiency is improved, but network architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The AP serves as an intermediary device that mediates between the CPE and AC by establishing a GRE tunnel on its CPE-facing interface. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall architecture by using existing network infrastructure (AP) rather than requiring direct CPE-AC tunneling, while still achieving efficient single-layer encapsulation
3Productivity
If AP performs GRE tunnel encapsulation and decapsulation, then encapsulation layers are reduced, but AP device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing GRE tunneling functionality only on the CPE-facing interface of the AP, while maintaining standard CAPWAP tunneling on the AC-facing interface. This selective approach adds minimal complexity to the AP by enabling GRE processing only where needed for CPE packet forwarding, rather than requiring full dual-stack functionality throughout the entire device
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a packet processing method, apparatus, and system, a device, and a computer-readable storage medium, and pertains to the field of communication technologies. This application provides a manner of setting, in a packet header of a second packet, a target identifier that indicates to decapsulate the packet. In this way, after the second packet is obtained from a first packet, a first original packet is obtained from the second packet when it is determined that the packet header of the second packet includes the target identifier. Then, a layer of encapsulation is directly performed on the first original packet, to obtain a first target packet used for sending. In this case, there is no need to perform a plurality of layers of encapsulation. Therefore, packet transmission efficiency is improved.