Service Chain Flow Offload Bypassing Uninterested Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current service chaining solutions are limited in optimizing flow paths as they typically require packets to traverse through all service nodes, even when some nodes are not interested in the flow, leading to inefficiencies and increased CPU cycles due to unnecessary forwarding.
Innovation Solution
The communication system enables dynamic bypass of packet forwarders by leaking flow routes between next and previous hops using Network Service Headers (NSH), allowing optimized paths to be established and maintained, thereby bypassing non-relevant nodes and improving network capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packets traverse through all service nodes in a service chain, then service delivery completeness is ensured, but network efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary forwarding at non-relevant nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes non-relevant service nodes from the packet forwarding path by implementing flow offload functionality. When a service node determines it is not interested in a specific flow, it extracts the flow from the service chain and redirects it through infrastructure bypass paths, eliminating unnecessary forwarding operations while maintaining service delivery for flows that require processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the service chain into relevant and non-relevant portions by implementing flow-specific routing. Each service node can independently determine its relevance to specific flows and segment the forwarding path accordingly, allowing packets to traverse only the necessary service nodes while bypassing others through infrastructure paths.
2Length of moving object
If flow offload is implemented at the closest infrastructure node, then service path length is reduced, but further optimization is limited by the infrastructure topology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces flow route update messages as intermediaries that carry routing information between service nodes and infrastructure nodes. These messages enable next-hop nodes to learn about offloaded flows and implement optimized routing, acting as a mediator that coordinates the bypass mechanism across multiple network elements to achieve end-to-end path optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary routing setup by installing flow-specific routing information in advance at next-hop infrastructure nodes. When a service node offloads a flow, it proactively provides routing information to the next-hop infrastructure node, enabling immediate bypass without waiting for subsequent routing decisions, thus reducing service path length more effectively.
3Productivity
If routing information is propagated through the service chain, then optimized paths can be established, but additional signaling overhead is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the NSH (Network Service Header) multi-functional by using it both for service chain forwarding and for carrying flow offload routing information. The same header structure that identifies service paths is also utilized to convey bypass routing information, eliminating the need for separate signaling protocols and reducing overall signaling overhead while enabling flow offload functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Particular embodiments described herein provide for a communication system that can be configured for receiving, at a network element, a flow offload decision for a first service node. The flow offload decision can include a portion of a service chain for processing a flow and updating next hop flow based routing information for the flow. A next hop in the flow can insert flow specific route information in its routing tables to bypass a packet forwarder serving the service that offloaded the flow in the reverse direction.