Abstract: A method for performing self-assignment Layer 2 address acquisition implemented by a client device. The method includes the client device selecting a Media Access Control (MAC) address and generating an outgoing test message that includes a first hash token to test an availability of the selected MAC address. The first hash token includes a K generation hash (HK) value of a seed known only to the client device, where K is an integer value greater than one. The method further includes the client device sending the outgoing test message; determining based on a response to the outgoing test message or a lack of a response to the outgoing test message that the selected MAC address is not in use, and using the selected MAC address based on the determination that the selected MAC address is not in use.

Abstract: A method for improving communication security implemented by a sending device. The method includes the sending device generating a first hash token based on a K generation hash (HK) value of a seed known only to the sending device, where K is an integer value greater than one, and sending a first message that includes the first hash token. The method further includes the sending device performing a reversible combination of a K?1 generation hash (HK?1) value of the seed and a hash of the first message to generate a second hash token, and sending the second message that includes the second hash token.

Abstract: A method for authenticating messages implemented by a sending device. The method includes the sending device sending a first message that includes an N generation token of a first seed, where N is a first integer value greater than one. The method further includes the sending device sending a second message that includes an N?1 generation token of the first seed and an M generation token of a second seed, where M is a second integer value greater than one, and where the N?1 generation token is a different generation than the M generation token.

Abstract: A method of reporting congestion in an upstream direction in a service chain function architecture. The method includes receiving, by the downstream device, a packet indicating congestion within a service function chaining architecture; generating, by the downstream device, a congestion report message in response to receiving the packet, wherein the congestion report message comprises a field indicating an existence of congestion within the service function chaining architecture and a service path identifier indicating a location of the congestion within the service function chaining architecture; and transmitting, by the downstream device, the congestion report message to an upstream device to permit the upstream device to address the congestion.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to forwarding a packet in a network. The packet is received at a node, where the packet is encapsulated by a network service header (NSH) including a service path header that identifies a service path. The service path is associated with a treatment value that directs subsequent nodes to treat the encapsulated NSH packet with a quality of service treatment. A forwarding table stored in the node is evaluated to identify the service path and the treatment value of the encapsulated NSH packet and a quality of service treatment is determined for the encapsulated NSH packet. The encapsulated NSH packet is forwarded to the subsequent nodes based on the service path indicated in the forwarding table and in accordance with the quality of service treatment corresponding to the treatment value identified in the forwarding table.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: perform a random number generation; generate a host identifier (HID) based on the random number generation, wherein the HID is substantially unique within a local network; and generate, using the HID, an initial message requesting a local address. A method comprises: performing a random number generation; generating a host identifier (HID) based on the random number generation, wherein the HID is substantially unique within a local network; generating, using the HID, an initial message requesting a local address; and transmitting the initial message.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is operable as a portable certification authority. The portable electronic device stores a pair of keys of a public key infrastructure, issued by a parent certification authority and generates a certificate dependent upon the pair of keys. The private key and corresponding public key certificate are transmitted to a network device of a second agency to allow the device to be authenticated by any node of the network of the first agency that posses anchor information of the parent certification authority. This enables the device of the second agency to be authenticated by a network node of the first agency.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node for identifying packet flows. The method includes receiving, by the network node, a packet. The method includes determining by the network node whether data contained in the packet matches all segments of a multi-segment flow specification (spec). In this context, a given packet is said to match the defined flow when attributes of the packet match all the specified criteria of a particular BGP FlowSpec. The method includes processing by the network node the packet according to an action specified in the multi-segment flow spec when the data contained in the packet matches all segments of the multi-segment flow spec.

Abstract: A method of reporting congestion in an upstream direction in a service chain function architecture. The method includes receiving, by the downstream device, a packet indicating congestion within a service function chaining architecture; generating, by the downstream device, a congestion report message in response to receiving the packet, wherein the congestion report message comprises a field indicating an existence of congestion within the service function chaining architecture and a service path identifier indicating a location of the congestion within the service function chaining architecture; and transmitting, by the downstream device, the congestion report message to an upstream device to permit the upstream device to address the congestion.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to forwarding a packet in a network. The packet is received at a node, where the packet is encapsulated by a network service header (NSH) including a service path header that identifies a service path. The service path is associated with a treatment value that directs subsequent nodes to treat the encapsulated NSH packet with a quality of service treatment. A forwarding table stored in the node is evaluated to identify the service path and the treatment value of the encapsulated NSH packet and a quality of service treatment is determined for the encapsulated NSH packet. The encapsulated NSH packet is forwarded to the subsequent nodes based on the service path indicated in the forwarding table and in accordance with the quality of service treatment corresponding to the treatment value identified in the forwarding table.

Abstract: A method of reporting congestion in an upstream direction in a service chain function architecture. The method includes receiving, by the downstream device, a packet indicating congestion within a service function chaining architecture; generating, by the downstream device, a congestion report message in response to receiving the packet, wherein the congestion report message comprises a field indicating an existence of congestion within the service function chaining architecture and a service path identifier indicating a location of the congestion within the service function chaining architecture; and transmitting, by the downstream device, the congestion report message to an upstream device to permit the upstream device to address the congestion.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: perform a random number generation; generate a host identifier (HID) based on the random number generation, wherein the HID is substantially unique within a local network; and generate, using the HID, an initial message requesting a local address. A method comprises: performing a random number generation; generating a host identifier (HID) based on the random number generation, wherein the HID is substantially unique within a local network; generating, using the HID, an initial message requesting a local address; and transmitting the initial message.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: perform a random number generation; generate a host identifier (HID) based on the random number generation, wherein the HID is substantially unique within a local network; and generate, using the HID, an initial message requesting a local address. A method comprises: performing a random number generation; generating a host identifier (HID) based on the random number generation, wherein the HID is substantially unique within a local network; generating, using the HID, an initial message requesting a local address; and transmitting the initial message.

Abstract: A method of reporting congestion in an upstream direction in a service chain function architecture. The method includes receiving, by the downstream device, a packet indicating congestion within a service function chaining architecture; generating, by the downstream device, a congestion report message in response to receiving the packet, wherein the congestion report message comprises a field indicating an existence of congestion within the service function chaining architecture and a service path identifier indicating a location of the congestion within the service function chaining architecture; and transmitting, by the downstream device, the congestion report message to an upstream device to permit the upstream device to address the congestion.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for managing network address information. In some embodiments, an appropriate address authority is queried to obtain information useful for address mapping. For example, the address authority may be selected by determining whether an address to be mapped is within one or more blocks of addresses for which the address authority is authoritative. In some further embodiments, address mapping information may be distributed from an address authority to a network device, so that the network device may perform address mapping using locally available information.

Abstract: A link cost determining method including computing, by a station, a new composite data rate using a set of data rates including an average data rate, a geometric mean data rate, and a minimum data rate for data samples, computing, by the station, a pair of hysteresis thresholds for a previous composite data rate, determining, by the station, whether the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds, and advertising, by the station, the new composite data rate when the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds.

Abstract: A method implemented by a service function forwarder (SFF) comprises receiving, by a receiver of the SFF, a service chain packet comprising a loop prevention field, the loop prevention field comprising a plurality of bits indicating whether an error has occurred during packet transmission, and determining, by a processor of the SFF, whether to forward the service chain packet based on a value in the loop prevention field being less than a predefined parameter, the predefined parameter based on a number of bits (n) in the loop prevention field.

Abstract: A link cost determining method including computing, by a station, a new composite data rate using a set of data rates including an average data rate, a geometric mean data rate, and a minimum data rate for data samples, computing, by the station, a pair of hysteresis thresholds for a previous composite data rate, determining, by the station, whether the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds, and advertising, by the station, the new composite data rate when the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds.

Abstract: A link cost determining method including computing, by a station, a new composite data rate using a set of data rates including an average data rate, a geometric mean data rate, and a minimum data rate for data samples, computing, by the station, a pair of hysteresis thresholds for a previous composite data rate, determining, by the station, whether the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds, and advertising, by the station, the new composite data rate when the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds.

Abstract: A method implemented by a service function forwarder (SFF) comprises receiving, by a receiver of the SFF, a service chain packet comprising a loop prevention field, the loop prevention field comprising a plurality of bits indicating whether an error has occurred during packet transmission, and determining, by a processor of the SFF, whether to forward the service chain packet based on a value in the loop prevention field being less than a predefined parameter, the predefined parameter based on a number of bits (n) in the loop prevention field.