Patent ID: 8654668
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for processing a packet, comprising: a plurality of service applications, each configured to perform a specific segment of processing on the packet; a plurality of service paths, programmably configured to link a completion of processing of one specific segment of processing associated with one of the service applications to a start of processing of another specific segment of another of the service applications such that each portion of processing of the packet can be performed in a specific order and by any of the plurality of service applications specified by the plurality of service paths; a plurality of input/output (I/O) cards, each I/O card configured to route packets from an ingress or to an egress of the system, wherein at least one of the plurality of service paths provides a link between at least one of the plurality of service applications with at least one of the plurality of I/O cards; and a control plane including at least one feature server configured to execute one or more customer-configured applications and to modify at least one of the plurality of service paths.