Multi-Protocol Packet Header Cohering for Ordered Operations Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packet switching technologies fail to efficiently manage and order operations data across multiple protocol headers in a network, leading to independent maintenance of operations data within packets, which hinders effective processing of multiple-protocol packets.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves cohering operations data from multiple protocol headers into a unified operations data field, ensuring that operations data is ordered and integrated across underlay and overlay networks, allowing for improved processing by packet switching devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If operations data is independently maintained within each protocol header, then each protocol header can be processed separately, but the operations data cannot be effectively integrated and ordered across multiple protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges operations data from multiple protocol headers into a unified operations data structure. The network node extracts operations data fields from each protocol header (underlay and overlay), orders them according to node traversal sequence, and integrates them into a single coherent operations data record, thereby resolving the fragmentation issue while maintaining processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The network node acts as an intermediary that mediates between multiple protocol headers with independent operations data. It receives packets with fragmented operations data, processes and orders the data from different protocols, and outputs integrated operations data, thereby enabling effective integration without requiring changes to the original protocol structures
2Loss of information
If operations data from multiple protocol headers is integrated into a unified structure, then effective processing and ordering is achieved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operations data integration process into distinct steps: extracting operations data from each protocol header, ordering the extracted data according to node traversal sequence, and integrating them into a unified structure. This segmentation reduces processing complexity by breaking down the complex integration task into manageable, sequential operations
Solution Approach 2:
The network node performs preliminary ordering of operations data based on node traversal sequence before final integration. By pre-organizing the operations data from multiple protocols according to their temporal sequence, the subsequent integration process becomes simpler and more efficient, reducing overall processing complexity
3Device complexity
If operations data is maintained separately in each protocol header, then the packet structure remains simple, but network troubleshooting and service chain verification become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines operations data from underlay and overlay protocols into a unified structured format that preserves the temporal sequence of node traversals. This merged operations data enables comprehensive network troubleshooting and service chain verification while maintaining relatively simple packet structures through standardized data organization
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, improved operations processing of multiple-protocol packets is performed by a node connected to a network. Received is a multiple-protocol (MP) packet that has multiple protocol headers, each having an operations data field. The operations data field of a first protocol header includes first protocol ordered operations data. Operations data is cohered from the operations data field of each of multiple protocol headers into the operations data field of a second protocol header resulting in the operations data field of the second protocol header including ordered MP operations data evidencing operations data of each of the multiple network nodes in a node traversal order taken by the MP packet among multiple network nodes. The ordered MP operations data includes said first protocol ordered operations data cohered from the operations data field of the first protocol header.