Patent ID: 9647925
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method for operating a source node, the method comprising: receiving, by the source node, a data path validation request command requesting validation of a path associated with a traffic flow identified in the data path validation request command; determining, by the source node, an index-based source routing first hop sequence in accordance with the path being validated, wherein the first hop sequence is identical to an index-based source routing second hop sequence associated with a non-validation request packet associated with the path being validated; generating, by the source node, a validation request packet in accordance with the data path validation request command, the validation request packet comprising route information associated with the first hop sequence and specifying the path, an alert flag indicating the validation request packet needs to be examined by nodes receiving the validation request packet, and a path validation header specifying processing performed by the nodes receiving the validation request packet; and transmitting, by the source node, the validation request packet in accordance with the route information.