Abstract: A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising receiving, by the NE, preferred path route (PPR) information comprising a PPR identifier (PPR-ID) and a plurality of PPR-Path Description Elements (PPR-PDEs), wherein a PPR-PDE describing the egress NE comprises a destination flag, an anycast PPR-ID, and an anycast group PPR-ID associated with the egress NE, and updating, by the NE, a forwarding database to include a forwarding entry for the egress NE, wherein the forwarding entry includes the PPR-ID, the anycast PPR-ID, and the anycast group PPR-ID, and wherein the forwarding entry indicates a next element on the PPR graph by which to forward an anycast data packet comprising the anycast PPR-ID.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing a data packet in a network node includes determining a level of deterioration of a primary path between the network node and the destination node. The determined level of deterioration is based at least on a non-congestion-related loss for a primary link associated with one or more subsequent hops of the data packet from the network node toward the destination node along the primary path. Based on the determined level of deterioration of the primary path being above a threshold, the primary path is changed to an alternate path from the network node to the destination node. The data packet is forwarded to a next network node on the alternate path.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network element (NE) in a network implementing an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP). The method comprises generating a message comprising a header and data, wherein the header comprises a length of the data prior to compressing the data, a length of the data after compressing the data, and a compression identifier, compressing the data based on a compression scheme identified by the compression identifier to obtain compressed data, and forwarding a compressed message comprising the header and the compressed data to another NE in the network.

Abstract: A network device includes a transmitter and a receiver to establish a secure connection with one or more network nodes as part of a Autonomic Control Plane (ACP) network. The network device also includes a processor coupled to the transmitter and receiver. The processor receives a request from an application to initiate a connection with a destination network node. The processor also receives packets from the application for transmission toward the destination network node. When the packets from the application are unencrypted, the processor end-to-end encrypts the unencrypted packets without notifying the application. The transmitter then transmits the encrypted packets towards the destination network node across the ACP network.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising receiving, by the NE, preferred path route (PPR) information describing a PPR graph, the PPR graph representing a plurality of PPRs between an ingress NE and an egress NE in the network, and updating, by the NE, a forwarding database to include a forwarding entry for the egress NE in response to identifying the NE in the plurality of PPR-PDEs, the forwarding entry indicating a next hop by which to forward a data packet comprising the PPR-ID.

Abstract: A first Bit Index Explicit Replication Traffic Engineering (BIER-TE) node of a network includes a first interface to a second BIER-TE node in the network. The first node includes a configuration topology and an operational topology. The configuration topology represents the configuration of the network and the operational topology represents usable and consistent links in the network topology. The first node receives first network topology information and updates the configuration topology with the first network topology information. The first node also verifies the first network topology information and updates the operational topology with the first network topology information responsive to the verification. The first node receives a packet including a routing bitstring having a set bit at a first bit index corresponding to the first interface and routes the packet to the second node responsive to the routing bitstring and the operational topology.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising receiving, by the NE, an advertisement comprising preferred path route (PPR) information and backup PPR information, the PPR information describing a PPR between a source and a destination in the network, the backup PPR information describing a backup PPR between the source and the destination, the PPR information comprising a PPR identifier (PPR-ID) and a plurality of PPR description elements (PPR-PDEs) each representing an element on the PPR, updating, by the NE, a local forwarding database to include the PPR information and the backup PPR information in association with a destination address of the destination, and transmitting, by the NE, a data packet based on the backup PPR information instead of the PPR information in response to an element on the PPR being unavailable due to a failure of an element along the PPR.

Abstract: Latency Based Forwarding (LBF) techniques are presented for the management of the latencies, or delays, of packets forwarded over nodes, such as routers, of a network. In addition to a network header indicating a destination node for receiving the packet, a packet also includes an LBF header indicating the packets accumulated delay since leaving the sender, a maximum latency for the entire journey from the sender to the receiver and a minimum latency for the entire journey from the sender to the receiver. When a packet is received at a node, based on the accumulated delay, the maximum latency, and the minimum latency, the node places the packet in a forwarding queue to manage the delays between the sender and the receiver. The LBF can also indicate a policy for the forwarding node to used when determining the enqueueing of the packet.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network element (NE) in a network implementing an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP).

Abstract: Latency Based Forwarding (LBF) techniques are presented for the management of the latencies, or delays, of packets forwarded over nodes, such as routers, of a network. In addition to a network header indicating a destination node for receiving the packet, a packet also includes an LBF header indicating the packets accumulated delay since leaving the sender, a maximum latency for the entire journey from the sender to the receiver and a minimum latency for the entire journey from the sender to the receiver. When a packet is received at a node, based on the accumulated delay, the maximum latency, and the minimum latency, the node places the packet in a forwarding queue to manage the delays between the sender and the receiver. The LBF can also indicate a policy for the forwarding node to used when determining the enqueueing of the packet.

Abstract: A network device is provided that comprises a plurality of physical ports, an autonomic device fabric (ADF) module configured to receive, send, and forward data packets via the plurality of physical ports, a memory that stores instructions, and one or more processors configured by the instructions to perform operations. The operations comprise determining that network device software is not installed and requesting the network device software from a management machine using the ADF module.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising receiving, by the NE, preferred path route (PPR) information comprising a PPR identifier (PPR-ID) and a plurality of PPR-Path Description Elements (PPR-PDEs), wherein a PPR-PDE describing the egress NE comprises a destination flag, an anycast PPR-ID, and an anycast group PPR-ID associated with the egress NE, and updating, by the NE, a forwarding database to include a forwarding entry for the egress NE, wherein the forwarding entry includes the PPR-ID, the anycast PPR-ID, and the anycast group PPR-ID, and wherein the forwarding entry indicates a next element on the PPR graph by which to forward an anycast data packet comprising the anycast PPR-ID.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising receiving, by the NE, preferred path route (PPR) information describing a PPR graph, the PPR graph representing a plurality of PPRs between an ingress NE and an egress NE in the network, and updating, by the NE, a forwarding database to include a forwarding entry for the egress NE in response to identifying the NE in the plurality of PPR-PDEs, the forwarding entry indicating a next hop by which to forward a data packet comprising the PPR-ID.

Abstract: Methods, network devices and computer readable media are disclosed for traffic-engineered forwarding through a new form of bit indexed explicit replication. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at an ingress node of a network, a message associated with a message flow, obtaining a message bit array corresponding to the message flow, encapsulating the message with the message bit array to form an encapsulated message, and forwarding the encapsulated message into the network. Bit positions in the message bit array are assigned to separate segments of a path or tree in the network, and an explicit path or tree for the message flow is defined as an end to end connection of multiple segments assigned bit positions having a first bit value in the message bit array.

Abstract: A network device includes a transmitter and a receiver to establish a secure connection with one or more network nodes as part of a Autonomic Control Plane (ACP) network. The network device also includes a processor coupled to the transmitter and receiver. The processor receives a request from an application to initiate a connection with a destination network node. The processor also receives packets from the application for transmission toward the destination network node. When the packets from the application are unencrypted, the processor end-to-end encrypts the unencrypted packets without notifying the application. The transmitter then transmits the encrypted packets towards the destination network node across the ACP network.

Abstract: A method implemented by a network element (NE) in a network, comprising receiving, by the NE, an advertisement comprising preferred path route (PPR) information and backup PPR information, the PPR information describing a PPR between a source and a destination in the network, the backup PPR information describing a backup PPR between the source and the destination, the PPR information comprising a PPR identifier (PPR-ID) and a plurality of PPR description elements (PPR-PDEs) each representing an element on the PPR, updating, by the NE, a local forwarding database to include the PPR information and the backup PPR information in association with a destination address of the destination, and transmitting, by the NE, a data packet based on the backup PPR information instead of the PPR information in response to an element on the PPR being unavailable due to a failure of an element along the PPR.

Abstract: A first Bit Index Explicit Replication Traffic Engineering (BIER-TE) node of a network includes a first interface to a second BIER-TE node in the network. The first node includes a configuration topology and an operational topology. The configuration topology represents the configuration of the network and the operational topology represents usable and consistent links in the network topology. The first node receives first network topology information and updates the configuration topology with the first network topology information. The first node also verifies the first network topology information and updates the operational topology with the first network topology information responsive to the verification. The first node receives a packet including a routing bitstring having a set bit at a first bit index corresponding to the first interface and routes the packet to the second node responsive to the routing bitstring and the operational topology.

Abstract: A network device includes a transmitter and a receiver to establish a secure connection with one or more network nodes as part of a Autonomic Control Plane (ACP) network. The network device also includes a processor coupled to the transmitter and receiver. The processor receives a request from an application to initiate a connection with a destination network node. The processor also receives packets from the application for transmission toward the destination network node. When the packets from the application are unencrypted, the processor end-to-end encrypts the unencrypted packets without notifying the application. The transmitter then transmits the encrypted packets towards the destination network node across the ACP network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device in a network receives node information regarding a plurality of nodes that are to join the network. The device determines network formation parameters based on the received node information. The network formation parameters are indicative of a network join schedule and join location for a particular node from the plurality of nodes. The device generates, according to the network join schedule, a join invitation for the particular node based on the network formation parameters. The join invitation allows the particular node to attempt joining the network at the join location via a specified access point. The device causes the sending of one or more beacons via the network that include the join invitation to the particular node. The particular node attempts to join the network via the specified access point based on the one or more beacons.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning secure devices onto a network are provided. The system includes a voucher server configured to provide a vouchers to a logistics device, and a secure pledge device associated with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) chip, wherein the RFID chip comprises the voucher obtained from the voucher server and written to the RFID chip by the logistics device and the voucher is used for provisioning the pledge device to a customer network.