Traffic distribution over multiple paths in a network while maintaining flow affinity
US9716592B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/14
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System and methods for efficiently distributing data packets in a multi-path network while maintaining flow affinity are provided. In one aspect, a system and method includes calculating hash values for distributing different flows, or sets of flows, of data packets received at a routing device. The hash value is calculated not only using information in the data packets, but also based on additional information that is determined based on an N-bit derived from the data packets. In some cases, calculating a hash value based on the additional information increases the entropy of the hashing function, thus enabling a routing device to distribute different flows of data packets over a greater number of network paths. Each routing device can derive a different, and randomly generated N-bit key while maintaining flow affinity for each received data packet in a given flow of data packets.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.