Nec Corporation

Martin Merkel

Fabian Schneider

A method for operating a software defined network (SDN) includes creating, by a software defined network controller, packet template information including a packet template and fill-in instructions, wherein the packet template defines a fill-in-the-blank packet. The method also includes sending, from the software defined network controller to a switch via a control channel, the packet template information and receiving, by the switch from a requestor, an incoming packet. The method further includes triggering, by determining that the incoming packet matches the packet template, the switch to generate an output packet, wherein the output packet is generated by using the fill-in instructions to fill in the fill-in-the-blank packet defined by the packet template. In addition, the method includes sending, by the switch to the requestor, the output packet.

Method for operating a software defined network and a software defined network

A method for operating a software defined network having forwarding elements (S) and a software defined network controller (C) for controlling the forwarding elements (S) includes creating packet template information (PTI), including at least one of one or more packet templates (PT) or packet template handling instructions (FII), providing the packet template information (PTI) to one or more selected forwarding elements, the one or more selected forwarding elements being selected from the forwarding elements (S), triggering the one or more selected forwarding elements to generate an output packet (RESP) based on the packet template information (PTI), and sending, by the selected forwarding elements, the generated output packet (RESP).

Growing community of inventors

Sandhausen, Germany

Martin Merkel