Some embodiments provide a method of reducing network congestion in a virtual network. The method, at a first CFE of the virtual network, receives multiple encapsulated data packets of a data stream. The encapsulated data packets having been encapsulated by a second CFE, operating on a server of the virtual network. The second CFE identifies a load percentage of the server, sets explicit congestion notification (ECN) bits on a percentage of the data packets based on the load percentage of the server, and encapsulates each data packet. The first CFE determines whether to forward a new connection to the second CFE based at least on the percentage of data packets from the first CFE with the ECN bits set.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for generating a unique ID for a sensor in a network. Once the sensor is installed on a component of the network, the sensor can send attributes of the sensor to a control server of the network. The attributes of the sensor can include at least one unique identifier of the sensor or the host component of the sensor. The control server can determine a hash value using a one-way hash function and a secret key, send the hash value to the sensor, and designate the hash value as a sensor ID of the sensor. In response to receiving the sensor ID, the sensor can incorporate the sensor ID in subsequent communication messages. Other components of the network can verify the validity of the sensor using a hash of the at least one unique identifier of the sensor and the secret key.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for generating a unique ID for a sensor in a network. Once the sensor is installed on a component of the network, the sensor can send attributes of the sensor to a control server of the network. The attributes of the sensor can include at least one unique identifier of the sensor or the host component of the sensor. The control server can determine a hash value using a one-way hash function and a secret key, send the hash value to the sensor, and designate the hash value as a sensor ID of the sensor. In response to receiving the sensor ID, the sensor can incorporate the sensor ID in subsequent communication messages. Other components of the network can verify the validity of the sensor using a hash of the at least one unique identifier of the sensor and the secret key.

A network node (120), such as a packet marking node, efficiently measures the bitrates of incoming packets on a plurality of timescales (TSs). A throughput-value function (TVF) is then graphed to indicate the throughput-packet value relationship for that TVF. Then, starting from the longest TS and moving towards the shortest TS, the packet marking node determines (88) a distance between the TVFs of different TSs at the measured bitrates. To determine the packet marking, the packet marking node selects a random throughput value between 0 and the bitrate measured on the shortest TS. Depending on how the random value relates to the measured bitrates, a TVF, and the distances to add to the random value, is then selected to determine (92) a packet value (PV) with which to mark the packet. The packet marking node then marks (94) the packet according to the determined PV.

A method, an apparatus, and a system are provided for load balancing of a service chain. The method includes: receiving, by a flow classifier, a service chain selection and control policy sent by a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) unit; hashing, by the flow classifier according to a hash quantity, a service flow corresponding to a service chain identifier, to obtain multiple subflows, and adding the service chain identifier and hashing factors to packets of the subflows, where different subflows correspond to different hashing factors; and sending, by the flow classifier, the packets of the subflows after the service chain identifier and the hashing factors are added, to a forwarding device.

A method, an apparatus, and a system are provided for load balancing of a service chain. The method includes: receiving, by a flow classifier, a service chain selection and control policy sent by a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) unit; hashing, by the flow classifier according to a hash quantity, a service flow corresponding to a service chain identifier, to obtain multiple subflows, and adding the service chain identifier and hashing factors to packets of the subflows, where different subflows correspond to different hashing factors; and sending, by the flow classifier, the packets of the subflows after the service chain identifier and the hashing factors are added, to a forwarding device.

A transmitting device includes: a first layer processor configured to include a buffer to store therein transmission data, the first layer processor configured to execute processing for a first layer on the transmission data; a second layer processor configured to execute processing for a second layer that differs from the first layer on the transmission data; and a transmitter configured to transmit the transmission data processed by the first layer processor and the second layer processor. The first layer processor discards the transmission data stored in the buffer in accordance with a parameter used for transmission control in the processing for the second layer.

A networking arrangement is comprises a first network device for transmitting a data stream to a second network device over a network, the method comprises: transmitting a series of first packets to the second network device, each of the first packets having an transmission time and comprising a unique identification value, receiving, from the second network device, a second packet, the second packet indicating receipt of a least one of the first packets by the second network device, determining a standard round-trip time and determining a current round-trip time in dependence on a transmission time of an oldest first packet for which no indication of receipt has been received, and a receipt time of a most recently received second packet, determining an unused network bandwidth between the first network device and the second network device in dependence on the current round-trip time and standard round-trip time.

A method is disclosed, comprising: receiving a first and a second Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a mesh network node; tagging the first and the second IP packet at the mesh network node based on a type of traffic by adding an IP options header to each of the first and the second IP packet; forwarding the first and the second IP packet toward a mesh gateway node; filtering the first and the second IP packet at the mesh gateway node based on the added IP options header by assigning each of the first and the second IP packet to one of a plurality of message queues, each of the plurality of message queues having a limited forwarding throughput; and forwarding the first and the second IP packet from the mesh gateway node toward a mobile operator core network, thereby providing packet flow filtering based on IP header and traffic type.

A method is disclosed, comprising: receiving a first and a second Internet Protocol (IP) packet at a mesh network node; tagging the first and the second IP packet at the mesh network node based on a type of traffic by adding an IP options header to each of the first and the second IP packet; forwarding the first and the second IP packet toward a mesh gateway node; filtering the first and the second IP packet at the mesh gateway node based on the added IP options header by assigning each of the first and the second IP packet to one of a plurality of message queues, each of the plurality of message queues having a limited forwarding throughput; and forwarding the first and the second IP packet from the mesh gateway node toward a mobile operator core network, thereby providing packet flow filtering based on IP header and traffic type.