Packet processing using encapsulation and decapsulation chains
US6578084B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/12
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for processing packets in a router includes specifying operations on packets as chains of processing elements. Each chain is uniquely associated with one interface/protocol pair, and each processing element performs at least one function on a packet. An incoming packet is received, and processed, first by a demultiplexor element which determines the protocol of the next higher level used by the packet. Then, the packet is processed by the elements of a decapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet was received, and by the elements of an encapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet is to be transmitted. The demultiplexor element or operation passes the packet on to a decapsulation chain associated with the protocol and with the incoming interface, depending on protocol information contained in the incoming packet. Decapsulation and encapsulation chains can be built dynamically, by inserting new and removing old elements as necessary as new protocols are developed and new features added. A chain walker walks through the chains, passing the processed packet to each element in a chain, until either the end of the chain is reache…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.