Policy routing in a communications network

摘要

A method of constructing a globally unique locator for a network entity attached to a network. A path between a core network and the network entity via intermediate network entities is determined by applying policy routing. The globally unique locator for the network entity is constructed by concatenating elements identifying the locations of the network entity, the intermediate network entities and a node in the core network. The identifying elements are obtained from Attachment Registers associated with each of the network entity, the intermediate network entities and the node in the core network.

主权项

1. A method of constructing a globally unique locator for a network entity attached to a network, the method comprising:
determining a path between a core network and the network entity via intermediate network entities by applying policy routing; and constructing the globally unique locator for the network entity, wherein 1) the constructing step comprises:
a1) obtaining a locator of the network entity;b1) retrieving, from an Attachment Register associated with the network entity, information relating to intermediate network entities neighbouring the network entity, the information including locators for the neighbouring intermediate network entities;c1) determining, on the basis of the retrieved information and policy parameters retrieved from one of the Attachment Register and a central database, the neighbouring intermediate network entity next on a path between the network entity and the core network;d1) concatenating elements derived from the locator for the network entity with elements derived from the determined intermediate network entity to form a concatenated locator;e1) retrieving, from an Attachment Register associated with the determined intermediate network entity, information relating to further intermediate network entities neighbouring the determined intermediate network entity, the information including locators for the intermediate network entities neighbouring the determined intermediate network entity;f1) determining, on the basis of the retrieved information and policy parameters retrieved from one of the Attachment Register associated with the determined intermediate network entity and a central database, the neighbouring intermediate network entity next on a path between the network entity and a core network;g1) concatenating elements derived from the locator of the next intermediate neighbouring network entity with the concatenated locator;h1) repeating, for the next intermediate neighbouring network entity, steps e1) to g1) unless the next network entity is a router disposed at the core network; andi1) concatenating elements derived from a locator of the router with the concatenated locator to form the globally unique locator for the network entity, or 2) the constructing step comprises:
a2) obtaining a locator of a router disposed at the core network;b2) retrieving, from an Attachment Register associated with the router, information relating to intermediate network entities neighbouring the router, the information including locators for the neighbouring intermediate network entities;c2) determining, on the basis of the retrieved information and policy parameters retrieved from one of the Attachment Register and a central database, the neighbouring intermediate network entity next on a path between the router and the network entity;d2) concatenating elements derived from the locator for the router with elements derived from the determined intermediate network entity to form a concatenated locator;e2) retrieving, from an Attachment Register associated with the determined intermediate network entity, information relating to further intermediate network entities neighbouring the determined intermediate network entity, the information including locators for the intermediate network entities neighbouring the determined intermediate network entity;f2) determining, on the basis of the retrieved information and policy parameters retrieved from one of the Attachment Register associated with the determined intermediate network entity and a central database, the neighbouring intermediate network entity next on a path between the router and the network entity;g2) concatenating elements derived from the locator of the next intermediate neighbouring network entity with the concatenated locator;h2) repeating, for the next intermediate neighbouring network entity, steps e2) to g2) unless the next entity on the path is the network entity; andi2) concatenating elements derived from a locator of the network entity with the concatenated locator to form the globally unique locator for the network entity.