TRANSLATING NETWORK FORWARDING PLANE MODELS INTO TARGET IMPLEMENTATION USING SUB MODELS AND HINTS

摘要

A routing controller in a communication network may be responsible for issuing routing rules to forwarding devices in the network. Exemplary embodiments allow forwarding functionality to be implemented by the forwarding devices in a device-specific manner. The routing controller may specify a routing rule to be implemented by the forwarding device, and may provide a default or suggested implementation of the function in the specification of the rule. If the forwarding device does not have a predetermined implementation of the function that is specific to the routing device, the forwarding device may use the default implementation provided by the routing controller. However, if the forwarding device does have a predetermined implementation of the function, the forwarding device may override the implementation described in the specification and use the predetermined implementation instead.

主权项

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a specification at an electronic device having forwarding functionality, the specification including: a rule, a specified function to be performed by the electronic device, and an implementation of the specified function; comparing the specified function to a set of known functions, the known functions having predetermined implementations that are prescribed by the electronic device; locating the specified function in the set of known functions; disregarding the implementation specified in the specification; and implementing the specified function on the electronic device using the predetermined implementation prescribed by the electronic device.