Insertion slots along deterministic track for movable network device in a deterministic network

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method comprises determining a movable network device is moving along a repeatable sequence of access point devices in a deterministic network; and establishing a deterministic track along the repeatable sequence of access point devices, the deterministic track comprising insertion slots allocated for insertion of a data packet, by the movable network device, into the deterministic track via any one of the respective access point devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 a deterministic network access device in a deterministic network receiving identification of a first insertion slot allocated exclusively for transmission of a data packet originated by a movable network device to a successor deterministic network access device, the deterministic network access device and the successor deterministic network access device belonging to a repeatable sequence of deterministic network access devices followed by the movable network device as the movable network device moves in the deterministic network;   the deterministic network access device identifying a second insertion slot allocated to the movable network device and preceding the first insertion slot;   the deterministic network access device receiving, during the second insertion slot, a data packet originated by the movable network device; and   the deterministic network access device deterministically forwarding the data packet, received during the second insertion slot, to the successor deterministic network access device at the first insertion slot, the second insertion slot preceding the first insertion slot being part of a deterministic track established for deterministic forwarding of the data packet along the sequence of deterministic network access devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second insertion slot is a dual entry slot that enables the deterministic network access device to receive the data packet from any one of movable network device or a succeeding deterministic network access device belonging to the repeatable sequence;   the first insertion slot a dual entry slot that enables the deterministic network access device to deterministically forward the data packet to the successor deterministic network access device without allocation of the first insertion slot by the successor deterministic network access device or any path computation element to the deterministic network access device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each insertion slot corresponds to a unique transmission channel at a unique timeslot. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deterministic network access device is implemented as any one of a wireless access device, a wired access device, or an optical access device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the receiving identification of the first insertion slot includes the deterministic network access device receiving, from the movable network device, a request for an insertion slot preceding the first insertion slot specified in the request;   the method further comprising the deterministic network access device creating a table entry associating the second insertion slot with the first insertion slot, and responding to the request with identification of the second insertion slot.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deterministic network access device and the successor deterministic network access device are attached to distinct parent network devices in a tree-based topology. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising:
 a device interface circuit configured for receiving, in a deterministic network, identification of a first insertion slot allocated exclusively for transmission of a data packet originated by a movable network device to a successor deterministic network access device, the apparatus implemented as a deterministic network access device in the deterministic network, the deterministic network access device and the successor deterministic network access device belonging to a repeatable sequence of deterministic network access devices followed by the movable network device as the movable network device moves in the deterministic network; and   a processor circuit configured for identifying a second insertion slot allocated to the movable network device and preceding the first insertion slot;   the device interface circuit configured for receiving, during the second insertion slot, a data packet originated by the movable network device;   the device interface circuit configured for deterministically forwarding the data packet, received during the second insertion slot, to the successor deterministic network access device at the first insertion slot, the second insertion slot preceding the first insertion slot being part of a deterministic track established for deterministic forwarding of the data packet along the sequence of deterministic network access devices.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second insertion slot is a dual entry slot that enables the deterministic network access device to receive the data packet from any one of movable network device or a succeeding deterministic network access device belonging to the repeatable sequence;
 the first insertion slot a dual entry slot that enables the deterministic network access device to deterministically forward the data packet to the successor deterministic network access device without allocation of the first insertion slot by the successor deterministic network access device or any path computation element to the deterministic network access device.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each insertion slot corresponds to a unique transmission channel at a unique timeslot. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein deterministic network access device is implemented as any one of a wireless access device, a wired access device, or an optical access device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the device interface circuit is configured for receiving, from the movable network device, a request for an insertion slot preceding the first insertion slot specified in the request;   the processor circuit configured for creating a table entry associating the second insertion slot with the first insertion slot, and responding to the request with identification of the second insertion slot.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus and the successor deterministic network access device are attached to distinct parent network devices in a tree-based topology. 
     
     
         13 . One or more non-transitory tangible media encoded with logic for execution by a machine and when executed by the machine operable for:
 the machine, implemented as a deterministic network access device in a deterministic network, receiving identification of a first insertion slot allocated exclusively for transmission of a data packet originated by a movable network device to a successor deterministic network access device, the deterministic network access device and the successor deterministic network access device belonging to a repeatable sequence of deterministic network access devices followed by the movable network device as the movable network device moves in the deterministic network;   the deterministic network access device identifying a second insertion slot allocated to the movable network device and preceding the first insertion slot;   the deterministic network access device receiving, during the second insertion slot, a data packet originated by the movable network device; and   the deterministic network access device deterministically forwarding the data packet, received during the second insertion slot, to the successor deterministic network access device at the first insertion slot, the second insertion slot preceding the first insertion slot being part of a deterministic track established for deterministic forwarding of the data packet along the sequence of deterministic network access devices.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory tangible media of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second insertion slot is a dual entry slot that enables the deterministic network access device to receive the data packet from any one of movable network device or a succeeding deterministic network access device belonging to the repeatable sequence;   the first insertion slot a dual entry slot that enables the deterministic network access device to deterministically forward the data packet to the successor deterministic network access device without allocation of the first insertion slot by the successor deterministic network access device or any path computation element to the deterministic network access device.   
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory tangible media of  claim 13 , wherein each insertion slot corresponds to a unique transmission channel at a unique timeslot. 
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory tangible media of  claim 13 , wherein the deterministic network access device is implemented as any one of a wireless access device, a wired access device, or an optical access device. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory tangible media of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the receiving identification of the first insertion slot includes the deterministic network access device receiving, from the movable network device, a request for an insertion slot preceding the first insertion slot specified in the request;   the one or more non-transitory tangible media further operable for the deterministic network access device creating a table entry associating the second insertion slot with the first insertion slot, and responding to the request with identification of the second insertion slot.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory tangible media of  claim 13 , wherein the deterministic network access device and the successor deterministic network access device are attached to distinct parent network devices in a tree-based topology.