A data transmission apparatus, a data transmission system, and a data transmission method for implementing flexible Ethernet (FlexE) data transmission in an upstream/downstream asymmetric manner includes obtaining a plurality of first data packets that come from different Media Access Control (MAC) clients, where the different MAC clients receive respective second data packets over respective second FlexE virtual links; and sending the plurality of first data packets to a transmit end of the second data packets over a first FlexE virtual link that corresponds to the different MAC clients.

A packet routing method includes computing, for a source node in the data network and a destination node in the data network, a set of multiple routes providing a set of shortest routes from the source to the destination that satisfy all the truth assignments for the Boolean algebra available from the path in the network. The method selects, for a packet flow, a route where logical conjunction of the policy constraints of the flow and the route is satisfied and where the route has sufficient bandwidth.

Some embodiments provide a method for maintaining a virtual network that spans at least one cloud datacenter separate from multi-machine edge nodes of an entity. This method configures a gateway in the cloud datacenter to establish secure connections with several edge devices at several multi-machine edge nodes (e.g., branch offices, datacenters, etc.) in order to establish the virtual network. The method configures the gateway to assess quality of connection links with different edge devices, and to terminate a secure connection with a particular edge device for a duration of time after the assessed quality of the connection link to the particular edge device is worse than a threshold value. In some embodiments, the gateway is configured to distribute routes to edge devices at the edge nodes, and to forgo distributing any route to the particular edge device along the connection link for the duration of time when the assessed quality of the connection link is worse than (e.g., less than) a threshold value. In different embodiments, the gateway assesses the quality of the connection link based on different factors or different combinations of factors. Examples of such factors in some embodiments include the following attributes of a connection link: packet loss, latency, signal jitter, etc. Also, the routes that the gateway distributes in some embodiments include routes that the edge devices distribute to the gateway, as well as routes that the gateway learns on its own.

A method for processing data packets in a communication network includes establishing a path for a flow of the data packets through the communication network. At a node along the path having a plurality of aggregated ports, a port is selected from among the plurality to serve as part of the path. A label is chosen responsively to the selected port. The label is attached to the data packets in the flow at a point on the path upstream from the node. Upon receiving the data packets at the node, the data packets are switched through the selected port responsively to the label.

Some embodiments provide a method for maintaining a virtual network that spans at least one cloud datacenter separate from multi-machine edge nodes of an entity. This method configures a gateway in the cloud datacenter to establish secure connections with several edge devices at several multi-machine edge nodes (e.g., branch offices, datacenters, etc.) in order to establish the virtual network. The method configures the gateway to assess quality of connection links with different edge devices, and to terminate a secure connection with a particular edge device for a duration of time after the assessed quality of the connection link to the particular edge device is worse than a threshold value. In some embodiments, the gateway is configured to distribute routes to edge devices at the edge nodes, and to forgo distributing any route to the particular edge device along the connection link for the duration of time when the assessed quality of the connection link is worse than (e.g., less than) a threshold value. In different embodiments, the gateway assesses the quality of the connection link based on different factors or different combinations of factors. Examples of such factors in some embodiments include the following attributes of a connection link: packet loss, latency, signal jitter, etc. Also, the routes that the gateway distributes in some embodiments include routes that the edge devices distribute to the gateway, as well as routes that the gateway learns on its own.

Some embodiments provide a method for maintaining a virtual network that spans at least one cloud datacenter separate from multi-machine edge nodes of an entity. This method configures a gateway in the cloud datacenter to establish secure connections with several edge devices at several multi-machine edge nodes (e.g., branch offices, datacenters, etc.) in order to establish the virtual network. The method configures the gateway to assess quality of connection links with different edge devices, and to terminate a secure connection with a particular edge device for a duration of time after the assessed quality of the connection link to the particular edge device is worse than a threshold value. In some embodiments, the gateway is configured to distribute routes to edge devices at the edge nodes, and to forgo distributing any route to the particular edge device along the connection link for the duration of time when the assessed quality of the connection link is worse than (e.g., less than) a threshold value. In different embodiments, the gateway assesses the quality of the connection link based on different factors or different combinations of factors. Examples of such factors in some embodiments include the following attributes of a connection link: packet loss, latency, signal jitter, etc. Also, the routes that the gateway distributes in some embodiments include routes that the edge devices distribute to the gateway, as well as routes that the gateway learns on its own.

The present disclosure describes various techniques for enabling a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) to provide a Base Station System (BSS) with an indication that a Logical Link Control (LLC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sent to a given wireless device contains a Radio Resource Location services Protocol (RRLP) Multilateration Timing Advance Request message such that the BSS after transmitting the LLC PDU to the given wireless device may invoke Timing Advance estimation algorithms for reception of uplink Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH) acknowledgement block(s) (e.g., Extended Coverage (EC)-PACCH acknowledgment block(s)) from the given wireless device.

In one embodiment, a device in a network determines that a plurality of packets should be aggregated, each of the plurality of packets comprising a payload. The device generates, for each of the payloads, a sub-media access control (sub-MAC) header that comprises a sequence number and a frame check sequence (FCS). The device forms an aggregated packet that comprises a physical layer (PHY) header, a MAC header, the payloads, and the generated sub-MAC headers for the payloads. The device sends the aggregated packet to another device in the network.

A method for processing data packets in a communication network includes establishing a path for a flow of the data packets through the communication network. At a node along the path having a plurality of aggregated ports, a port is selected from among the plurality to serve as part of the path. A label is chosen responsively to the selected port. The label is attached to the data packets in the flow at a point on the path upstream from the node. Upon receiving the data packets at the node, the data packets are switched through the selected port responsively to the label.

In one embodiment, a device in a network determines that a plurality of packets should be aggregated, each of the plurality of packets comprising a payload. The device generates, for each of the payloads, a sub-media access control (sub-MAC) header that comprises a sequence number and a frame check sequence (FCS). The device forms an aggregated packet that comprises a physical layer (PHY) header, a MAC header, the payloads, and the generated sub-MAC headers for the payloads. The device sends the aggregated packet to another device in the network.