Distributed packet processing using encapsulation and decapsulation chains
US6697872B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/16
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for processing packets includes specifying a primary chain of function elements on a primary processor and specifying a secondary chain of function elements on a secondary processor. Each element is operable to perform an operation on a packet. The method further includes selecting one of the primary processor, secondary processor, and combination of the primary and secondary processors to perform a packet-processing function of each element. The packets are processed by walking through the elements on at least one of the primary and secondary chains. A router having a primary and secondary processor is also disclosed. The primary and secondary processors each include a chain generator for generating primary and secondary chains of function elements. Each of the function elements of the primary chain corresponds to one of the function elements of the secondary chain to form a pair of function elements. At least one function element of each pair is configured to perform a packet-processing function.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.