Packet ordering based on delivery route changes in communication networks

摘要

A hybrid network device can implement functionality to detect a change in a packet route associated with one or more packets sharing a common route, and to manage out-of-order packet arrival. In a hybrid communication network, a first network device can communicate with a second network device via a plurality of packet routes. The first network device can detect one or more route change indicators that are indicative of a change in a packet route between the first network device and the second network device from a first packet route to a second packet route based, at least in part, on a plurality of packets received from the second network device. Based on the route change indicators, it may be determined whether the plurality of packets were received according to a predetermined order and if the plurality of packets should be re-ordered based on the predetermined order.

主权项

1. A method for managing packet routing in a communication network, the method comprising:
detecting, at a first network device, a change in a packet route from a first packet route to a second packet route between the first network device and a second network device, wherein said detecting the change in the packet route comprises:
detecting a route termination indicator within a route termination packet that is received at a first network interface via the first packet route, wherein the route termination indicator indicates the change in the packet route; anddetecting a route start indicator within a route start packet that is received at a second network interface via the second packet route, wherein the route start indicator indicates that subsequent packets from the second network device will be transmitted via the second packet route; in response to said detecting the change in the packet route, determining whether a first packet received via the first packet route and a second packet received via the second packet route were received in a predetermined packet order based, at least in part, on whether the route start indicator was received prior to receiving the route termination indicator; and re-ordering the first packet and the second packet according to the predetermined packet order in response to determining that the first packet and the second packet were not received in the predetermined packet order.