In-situ Flow Detection Preservation During Protocol Re-encapsulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-situ flow detection technology cannot be used for performance detection in a detection domain where multiple bearer protocols are deployed, as in-situ flow detection information is lost during packet re-encapsulation across different protocols.

Innovation Solution

A method where a first node receives a packet encapsulated by a first bearer protocol, adds in-situ flow detection information, and re-encapsulates it using a second bearer protocol without removing the information, allowing it to be transmitted across the detection domain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If packet re-encapsulation is performed when switching between different bearer protocols, then packet format compatibility is improved, but in-situ flow detection information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket format compatibilityVSAvoidin-situ flow detection information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds the first in-situ flow detection information into the packet header of the second packet during re-encapsulation. This nesting approach allows the detection information to be preserved within the new packet structure, preventing information loss while enabling protocol conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a processing node as an intermediary that extracts in-situ flow detection information from incoming packets, re-encapsulates packets with protocol conversion, and embeds the detection information into the new packet format. This intermediary mechanism ensures information preservation during protocol transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If in-situ flow detection information is removed during re-encapsulation, then re-encapsulation process is simplified, but performance detection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvere-encapsulation process complexityVSAvoidperformance detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary extraction of in-situ flow detection information before re-encapsulation, and then embeds this information into the re-encapsulated packet. This preliminary action ensures detection capability is maintained while allowing the re-encapsulation process to proceed systematically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The processing node acts as an intermediary that preserves detection information through the re-encapsulation process by extracting, transforming, and embedding the information in the new packet format, maintaining detection capability without overwhelming system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bearer protocols are deployed in detection domain, then network versatility is improved, but in-situ flow detection technology cannot be used for performance detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork versatilityVSAvoidperformance detection availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal solution where processing nodes can handle multiple bearer protocols (IPv4, IPv6, MPLS, GRE, NSH, SRv6) while maintaining in-situ flow detection capability across all protocols. The system embeds detection information in a protocol-agnostic manner, enabling performance detection regardless of the underlying bearer protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces processing nodes as intermediaries that mediate between different bearer protocols while preserving in-situ flow detection information. These nodes extract detection information from incoming packets regardless of protocol type, perform necessary protocol conversions, and embed the detection information in the outgoing packets, ensuring continuous detection capability across protocol boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4131855B1Packet processing method and device based on in-situ flow detection
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4131855B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4131855B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4131855B1 patent drawingFigure 5a

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose an in-situ flow detection-based packet processing method. After receiving a first packet encapsulated by using a first bearer protocol, a first node may obtain, based on the first packet, a second packet encapsulated by using a second bearer protocol. A first packet header of the first packet includes first in-situ flow detection information, and a packet header of the second packet also includes the first in-situ flow detection information. It can be learned that, when re-encapsulating the first packet by using the second bearer protocol, the first node does not remove the first in-situ flow detection information, but adds the first in-situ flow detection information to the packet encapsulated by using the second bearer protocol. Therefore, even if the first bearer protocol and the second bearer protocol are deployed in a detection domain, the first in-situ flow detection information is not removed due to re-encapsulation of the packet, and may be transmitted across the entire detection domain. Therefore, an in-situ flow detection technology may be used for performance detection of the detection domain.