SRH TLV Processing Attributes for Flexible Segment Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The flexibility of packet processing by segment endpoint nodes in segment routing networks is limited due to the need for locally configured TLV processing policies, which hinders efficient determination of operations based on TLV fields.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a TLV processing attribute into the Segment Routing Header (SRH) to indicate whether TLV fields need to be processed, along with a bitmap field to specify processing nodes, allowing nodes to determine processing based on this attribute rather than local policies, and utilizing SIDs to set this attribute in a one-to-one correspondence with segment endpoint nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If segment endpoint nodes use locally configured TLV processing policies to determine whether to process TLV fields, then nodes can independently make processing decisions, but the flexibility of packet processing is limited and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the TLV processing policy from local node configurations and consolidates it into a centralized attribute stored in the SRH. Instead of each node having independent local policies, the processing requirements are taken out and embedded in the packet header itself, allowing uniform determination across all nodes without local configuration complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a TLV processing attribute as an intermediary between the head node and segment endpoint nodes. This attribute acts as a mediator that carries processing instructions from the head node to all intermediate nodes, eliminating the need for complex local configurations at each node while maintaining flexible packet processing
2Productivity
If each segment endpoint node independently determines TLV field processing based on local policies, then nodes have autonomous decision-making capability, but the efficiency of determining whether to process TLV fields is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the TLV processing attribute in the SRH at the head node before packet transmission. All processing decisions are predetermined and embedded in the packet header, so segment endpoint nodes can directly read and execute the instructions without performing time-consuming local policy evaluations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing segment endpoint nodes to automatically determine TLV field processing requirements by reading the TLV processing attribute from the SRH. Nodes serve themselves by directly interpreting the embedded instructions without needing to query external policy databases or perform complex local decision-making processes
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a packet processing method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium, and belongs to the field of segment routing technologies. In the method, the network node receives a packet carrying an SRH, where the SRH includes one or more TLV fields and a TLV processing attribute, the TLV processing attribute indicates whether the network node needs to process the TLV fields included in the SRH, and the network node determines, based on the TLV processing attribute, processing of the TLV fields included in the SRH. In this way, any segment endpoint node on a segment routing network may determine the TLV processing attribute by using the SRH, so as to determine whether the TLV fields included in the SRH need to be processed. In this way, the segment endpoint node does not need to independently determine, by using a locally configured policy, the TLV fields included in the SRH, so as to improve efficiency of determining, by the segment endpoint node, whether to process the TLV fields.