Packet forwarding method and device utilizing the same

Abstract

A packet forwarding method. The method reacts to service function events promptly by recalculating a more streamlined service function path (SFP) for a packet flow of a service function chain (SFC). Service functions (SFs) and service function forwarders (SFFs) collaborate to serve a SFC packet flow and bypass SFs belonging to the same SF group which does not provides functional service to packets of the flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packet forwarding method executable by an electronic device, comprising:
 defining one or more service function (SF) groups;   collecting SF information for further categorization of service functions (SFs); and   creating at least one service function chain (SFC), retrieving and sending definition of the SF groups associated with the SFC to at least one path recalculation module (PRM) in the SFF, wherein the PRM stores the definition of SF groups.   
     
     
         2 . The packet forwarding method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating definition of one or more SF groups through a computerized automation process or a machine learning based categorization process.   
     
     
         3 . The packet forwarding method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 passively receiving and storing definition of one or more SF groups from an administrative user.   
     
     
         4 . The packet forwarding method of  claim 1 , wherein the SF information comprises function description of the SFs, events occurs in the SFs, packets processing history, and others. 
     
     
         5 . The packet forwarding method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first packet classified for a service function path (SFP) at a first service function (SF) in the service function path;   determining whether a bypass event associated with the first packet and the first service function is detected;   inserting group information of the first service function into a header of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected;   transmitting the first packet comprising the group information to a service function forwarder (SFF); and   modifying a service index in the service function chain encapsulation of the first packet to bypass one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the first packet comprises the group information.   
     
     
         6 . The packet forwarding method of  claim 5 , wherein the first service function and the one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path belong to a same service function group. 
     
     
         7 . The packet forwarding method of  claim 5 , wherein the modifying the header of the first packet comprises:
 modifying the header of the first packet to bypass a subsequent service function forwarder connecting the one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected.   
     
     
         8 . A packet forwarding device, comprising:
 a memory operable to store a sensitive detector module;   a processor operable to load the sensitive detector module and perform a packet forwarding method comprising:
 defining one or more service function (SF) groups; 
 collecting SF information for further categorization of service functions (SFs); and 
 creating at least one service function chain (SFC), retrieving and sending definition of the SF groups associated with the SFC to at least one path recalculation module (PRM) in the SFF, wherein the PRM stores the definition of SF groups. 
   
     
     
         9 . The packet forwarding device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 generating definition of one or more SF groups through a computerized automation process or a machine learning based categorization process.   
     
     
         10 . The packet forwarding device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 passively receiving and storing definition of one or more SF groups from an administrative user.   
     
     
         11 . The packet forwarding device of  claim 8 , wherein the SF information comprises function description of the SFs, events occurs in the SFs, packets processing history, and others. 
     
     
         12 . The packet forwarding device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a first packet classified for a service function path (SFP) at a first service function (SF) in the service function path;   determining whether a bypass event associated with the first packet and the first service function is detected;   inserting group information of the first service function into a header of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected;   transmitting the first packet comprising the group information to a service function forwarder (SFF); and   modifying a service index in the service function chain encapsulation of the first packet to bypass one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the first packet comprises the group information.   
     
     
         13 . The packet forwarding device of  claim 12 , wherein the first service function and the one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path belong to a same service function group. 
     
     
         14 . The packet forwarding device of  claim 12 , wherein the modifying the header of the first packet comprises:
 modifying the header of the first packet to bypass a subsequent service function forwarder connecting the one or more subsequent service functions arranged subsequent to the first service function in the service function path of the first packet in a condition that the bypass event is detected.