A network device acts as a controller within a software-defined network. The network device receives a processing definition, which includes a representation of configurable definitions of protocols, configurable flow table definitions, and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables defined by the configurable flow table definitions. The network device translates the processing definition to create a parser configuration package, which is distributed to a plurality of forwarding elements. This distribution causes each forwarding element to create a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions. The flow tables include one or more configurable key columns and a set of one or more action columns to store forwarding decisions. The network device transmits data to populate the configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables created within each of the plurality of forwarding elements.

System for flexible and extensible flow processing in software-defined networks

A network device acting as a forwarding element within a software-defined network receives a representation of configurable flow table definitions and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device creates a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions and installs the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device receives data to populate configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables and populates the flow tables using that data. The network device then selects from forwarding decisions for packets according to the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables, the flow tables, and each packet's values in relevant header fields required by the configurable logic.

Forwarding element for flexible and extensible flow processing in software-defined networks

A network element of a software-defined network comprises line interface modules (321-324) capable of transferring data between each other and providing connections to other network elements. Each line interface module is configurable with configuration data received from a controller of the software-defined network. The line interface modules are configured, in accordance with the configuration data, to support external data-forwarding functionality between the network element and the other network elements and to support internal data-forwarding functionality between the line interface modules within the network element. Thus, the controller can manage the line interface modules, such as line interface modules, as separately controlled devices. The line interface modules are further adapted to support, in accordance with the configuration data, signaling functionality between the line interface modules. The signaling functionality provides internal functionalities of the network element, such as work sharing between the line interface modules, so that also the internal functionalities can be controllable via the controller.

A network element of a software-defined network

A system and method of providing security service to a mobile traffic network are provided. A local network group comprising a plurality of user devices that are subscribed to the security service is created. One of the plurality of the user devices is selected to act as a firewall for the plurality of user devices of the local network group. The selected user device is provisioned to act as a firewall for the local network group. A message is sent to the plurally of user devices of the local network group to route communication through the selected user device via a short range wireless communication technology.

Dynamic provisioning of a firewall role to user devices

Updated radio protocol data may be propagated in a peer-to-peer (P2P) distribution scheme so that peer devices that are incompatible with a particular radio protocol may be dynamically re-configured to communicate with other devices using the particular radio protocol. A remote server(s) may push updated radio protocol data to a hub device, which thereafter disseminates the radio protocol data to other peer devices. These peer devices can forward the data to downstream peer devices, and so on, without further intervention by the remote server(s) that initiated the distribution. The transfer of radio protocol data over P2P connections may occur using a broadcasting technique where, prior to the transfer, a device in possession of the radio protocol data broadcasts an indication to nearby peer devices, which can receive the broadcast and indicate to the broadcaster whether they are ready to receive the radio protocol data.

Peer-to-peer distribution of radio protocol data for software defined radio (SDR) updates

The invention proposes a network node comprising modules (1, 2, 3, 4, 6; 7) including transport functions in order to support a particular network transport protocol, wherein the transport functions are realized by software. The invention also proposes a method for operating the network node. Different network transport protocols are supported with the same hardware by installing corresponding software.

Gerald Berghof

Papers

Universal telecommunication node with software-defined exchangeable protocol architecture