Patent ID: 8787388
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of forwarding a set of network packets from a packet source to a packet destination through a network that has a first network switch coupled to the packet source, a second network switch coupled to the packet destination, and a controller server that controls the first and second network switches, comprising: with the controller server, generating control messages that are different from the set of network packets and sending the generated control messages to the first and second network switches; with the controller server, receiving a given one of the network packets in the set of network packets from the first network switch; in response to receiving the given one of the network packets, using the controller server to determine whether to forward the set of network packets to the packet destination through the controller server or whether to establish a path for the set of network packets through the first and second network switches in the network; and in response to determining that the set of network packets is to be forwarded to the packet destination through the controller server, generating control messages that are different from the set of network packets using the controller server and sending the control messages to the first network switch to direct the first network switch to forward the set of network packets from the packet source to the packet destination through the controller server.