Intra-priority class ordering of rules corresponding to a model of network intents

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for identifying intra-priority class shadowed rules. A network intent model that is based at least in part on a priority-ordered listing of rules representing network intents is received, wherein each rule comprises a Boolean function of one or more packet characteristics and a corresponding network action. Each rule is sorted into a priority class, and for each priority class, it is determined whether each of its constituent rules are intra-priority class shadowed, wherein an intra-priority class shadowed rule can be constructed from the set comprising the remaining rules of the given priority class, and a non intra-priority class shadowed rule cannot be constructed from the set comprising the remaining rules of the given priority class. An indication of the determined intra-priority class shadowed rules is transmitted, such that the number of possible intra-priority class orderings can be reduced to account only for the relative ordering of the intra-priority class shadowed rules.