公开(公告)号：US10404531B2

公开(公告)日：2019-09-03

申请号：US14643421

申请日：2015-03-10

Applicant: XIEON NETWORKS S.A.R.L.

Inventor： Ville Hallivuori ,  Juhamatti Kuusisaari

IPC: H04L12/24 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04L12/707 ,  H04L12/721 ,  H04L12/723 ,  H04L12/741

Abstract: A network element of a software-defined network comprises a data transfer interface (210) for receiving and transmitting data and a processing system (215) for constructing a software-defined data path and a fixed-functionality data path such as for example an IP/MPLS or L2 switching path. The software-defined data path comprises look-up tables for selecting software-defined actions and the fixed-functionality data path defines fixed-functionality actions. The processing system is adapted to convert metadata associated with data managed by the software-defined data path to a data format suitable for the fixed-functionality data path when one or more of the fixed-functionality actions are needed in conjunction with forwarding the data. One of the fixed-functionality actions is selected at least partly on the basis of which one of the look-up tables was most recently accessed, and the determined fixed-functionality action is carried out so as to initiate the one or more needed fixed-functionality actions.