Packet Modification Circuit for Unrecognized Header Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard network routing integrated circuits are limited in processing and forwarding network packets based on unrecognized headers or fields, such as those in MPLS or GTP tagged packets, due to their hardware capabilities, which restricts packet classification and forwarding capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Modifying network packets by adding encapsulation headers or swapping data into recognized fields, allowing standard switch or routing ICs to process and forward packets using unrecognized data, which is then removed after processing to reform the original packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard network routing ICs are used for packet processing, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but packet classification and forwarding capabilities are limited to recognized headers only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a packet modification circuit as an intermediary component that translates unrecognized packet headers into recognized formats. This mediator enables standard routing ICs to process packets with unrecognized headers by converting them into a format the routing IC can understand, thereby expanding adaptability without requiring complex custom routing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packet processing function into two distinct parts: a packet modification circuit that handles header translation, and a standard routing IC that performs the actual routing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the modification circuit handles protocol conversion while the routing IC maintains its standard, well-understood functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packet modification is implemented to enable unrecognized header processing, then packet processing versatility is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional modification circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The packet modification circuit creates a copy or translation of the unrecognized packet header into a recognized format. Rather than requiring the routing IC to directly process unrecognized formats, the system makes a copied version in the recognized format, which the standard routing IC can then process using its existing capabilities.
3Productivity
If standard routing ICs process only recognized headers, then processing reliability is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to inability to utilize unrecognized packet fields
Solution Approach 1:
The packet modification circuit performs preliminary action by converting unrecognized headers to recognized formats before the packets reach the routing IC. This pre-processing ensures that when packets arrive at the routing IC, they are already in the correct format for reliable processing, maintaining accuracy while enabling broader protocol support.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for modifying network packets to use unrecognized headers/fields for packet classification and forwarding in packet processing systems, such as network tool optimizer (NTO) devices. The packet modifications described allow standard switch or routing integrated circuits (ICs) to process, classify, and forward packets based upon data that is not typically recognized by the hardware capabilities of the standard packet routing circuitry for packet processing. Input packets are modified so that unrecognized data becomes recognized data for purposes of packet processing, classification, and forwarding by the packet routing circuitry. These modifications are then removed after packets are processed to reform the original packets. The original packets are then provided to destination devices based upon packet classification and forwarding control information. As such, packet processing, classification, and forwarding is provided in packet processing systems using headers/fields that are not supported for processing by standard switch or routing integrated circuits (ICs).