Patent ID: 11929906
Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Field: Digital communication (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A method for a first router to utilize a protocol to provide instantiation information to a second router that is usable to install software of a service on the second router, the method comprising:
receiving, at the first router, input from a network operator that causes the service software to be installed on the first router, wherein the service software configures the first router to establish network paths with other devices running the service software;
generating, at the first router, according to a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), an advertisement message indicating the service software that is installed on the first router and a path associated with reaching the first router using the service;
populating the advertisement message with a service request attribute that includes information for installing the service software on the second router, the information including:
a service identifier that indicates the service that is being requested to be installed on the second router such that the second router can establish the path; and
service-location information indicating a location from which the second router obtains the service software; and

sending, from the first router, the advertisement message that includes the service request attribute to the second router.