Patent ID: 9106581
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: sending program text for a program that conforms to a syntax for a high-level forwarding path description language (FPDL) from a control unit of a network device to a forwarding component of the network device, wherein the program text defines a forwarding path element; compiling the program text with the forwarding component to a platform-independent intermediate representation; compiling, in response to a request by the control unit, the intermediate representation with the forwarding component to generate a forwarding path block having one or more forwarding structures for execution by the forwarding component to process packets; installing the forwarding path block to an internal packet forwarding path of the forwarding component, the forwarding path element exclusively associated with the forwarding path block when the program text defines a scope for the forwarding path element as local and non-exclusively associated with the forwarding path block when the program text defines the scope for the forwarding path element as global; receiving a packet with the forwarding component; and processing, by the forwarding component, the received packet by executing the forwarding path block including the forwarding path element.