Express header for packets with hierarchically structured variable-length identifiers

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for forwarding named packets. During operation, the system receives a named packet with an express header. The named packet includes a payload and a name which identifies the payload. The express header includes a content identifier, a global forwarding identifier, and a local forwarding identifier. The content identifier uniquely represents an interest corresponding to the name. The global forwarding identifier includes forwarding information to facilitate global forwarding. The local forwarding identifier includes forwarding information to facilitate local forwarding. The system then makes a forwarding decision for the packet based on the content identifier, the global forwarding identifier, and optionally the local forwarding identifier.

主权项

1. A computer-executable method for forwarding named packets, the method comprising:
receiving, at a router within a network domain, a named packet with an express header, wherein the named packet includes a payload and a name which identifies the payload, wherein the name is a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI) comprising contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level; and wherein the express header includes a content identifier, a global forwarding identifier, and a local forwarding identifier; wherein the content identifier is a hash derived based on the entire name and optionally additional information in the named packet, and the content identifier uniquely represents an interest corresponding to the name; wherein the global forwarding identifier is different from the name and includes forwarding information to facilitate global forwarding of the named packet towards the network domain; wherein the local forwarding identifier is different from the name and includes forwarding information to facilitate local forwarding of the named packet towards a destination node within the network domain, wherein global forwarding is forwarding of the named packet towards the network domain, and local forwarding is forwarding of the named packet within the network domain towards the destination node; determining whether the router is in the same network domain indicated by the global forwarding identifier; and in response to determining that the router is in the network domain indicated by the global forwarding identifier, making a forwarding decision for the named packet based on the content identifier and the local forwarding identifier.