Implementing multi-table OpenFlow using a parallel hardware table lookup architecture
US11470009B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 2019 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/22
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for implementing multi-table OpenFlow using a parallel hardware table lookup architecture are provided. In certain embodiments, these techniques include receiving, at a network device from a software-defined networking (SDN) controller, flow entries for installation into flow tables of the network device, where the flow entries are structured in a manner that assumes the flow tables can be looked-up serially by a packet processor of the network device, but where the flow tables are implemented using hardware lookup tables (e.g., TCAMs) that can only be looked-up in parallel by the packet processor. The techniques further include converting, by the network device, the received flow entries into a format that enables the packet processor to process ingress network traffic correctly using the flow entries, despite the packet processor's parallel lookup architecture, and installing the converted flow entries into the flow tables/hardware lookup tables.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.