IP Library Granted Patent US 12,457,163
Granted Patent B2
US 12,457,163 · App. 17/864,291 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Method, apparatus, and system for controlling a flow entry

Inventor: Yilong Lyu (Hangzhou, CN)
Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
H04L45/02H04L45/38H04L49/70
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,457,163
App. No.
17/864,291
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method including controlling a second network device to add the flow entry, so that the second network device performs message forwarding according to the flow entry; and after controlling the second network device to add the flow entry, receiving a message matching the flow entry and controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry under a certain condition, wherein the first network device is responsible for control of time for deleting the flow entry based on a protocol state of the flow entry. The present disclosure improves the rationality of the aging of the flow entry in the second network device.

Claims (50)

1 . A method comprising:

controlling, by a first network device, a second network device to add a flow entry;

controlling time for deleting the flow entry based on a protocol state of the flow entry, the controlling the time for deleting the flow entry based on the protocol state of the flow entry including:

in response to determining that an aging time corresponding to a current protocol state of the flow entry is reached, determining whether the flow entry is set with a flag sent to the second network device; and

in response to determining that the flow entry is set with the flag sent to the second network device, retaining the flow entry; and

after controlling the second network device to add the flow entry, receiving a message matching the flow entry and controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry under a preset condition.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second network device performs message forwarding according to the flow entry.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the second network device to add the flow entry comprises controlling the second network device to add the flow entry in response to determining that the protocol state of the flow entry is an established state for connection.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the time for deleting the flow entry based on the protocol state of the flow entry comprises controlling the aging time of the flow entry of the second network device, wherein the aging time corresponds to an established state for connection of the flow entry.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:

in response to controlling the second network device to add the flow entry, setting for the flow entry the flag sent to the second network device.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

in response to controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry, clearing the flag sent to the second network device.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the time for deleting the flow entry based on the protocol state of the flow entry further comprises:

in response to determining that the aging time corresponding to the current protocol state of the flow entry is reached, determining whether the current protocol state of the flow entry is an established state for connection; and

in response to determining that the current protocol state of the flow entry is the established state, retaining the flow entry.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the time for deleting the flow entry based on the protocol state of the flow entry further comprises:

determining that the aging time corresponding to the current protocol state of the flow entry has been reached, and the flow entry in the second network device has been deleted; and

deleting the flow entry thereof.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry under the preset condition comprises:

determining whether the received message matching the flow entry satisfies a preset deletion condition; and

in response to determining that the message satisfies the preset deletion condition, controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein:

the preset deletion condition is that the message corresponds to a connection release process.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

in response to a determination that the message corresponding to the connection release process, determining that the preset deletion condition is satisfied.

12 . A method comprising:

in response to control of a first network device, adding a flow entry;

according to the flow entry, performing forwarding processing on a message matching the flow entry; and

forwarding the message to the first network device, so that the first network device, according to the message, controls a second network device to delete the flow entry under a preset condition,

wherein the first network device is responsible for controlling time for deleting the flow entry based on a protocol state of the flow entry, the controlling the time for deleting the flow entry based on the protocol state of the flow entry including:

in response to determining that an aging time corresponding to a current protocol state of the flow entry is reached, determining whether the current protocol state of the flow entry is an established state for connection; and

in response to determining that the current protocol state of the flow entry is the established state, retaining the flow entry.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the forwarding the message to the first network device comprises:

determining whether the message satisfies a preset reporting condition; and

in response to determining that the message satisfies the preset reporting condition, forwarding the message to the first network device.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the preset reporting condition is configured to determine whether it is a message corresponding to a connection release process.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising, in response to a determination that the message corresponds to the connection release process, determining that the preset reporting condition is satisfied.

16 . One or more memories storing thereon computer- readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

controlling, by a first network device, a second network device to add a flow entry; and

after controlling the second network device to add the flow entry, receiving a message matching the flow entry and controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry under a preset condition,

wherein the first network device is responsible for controlling time for deleting the flow entry based on a protocol state of the flow entry, the controlling the time for deleting the flow entry based on the protocol state of the flow entry including:

in response to determining that an aging time corresponding to a current protocol state of the flow entry is reached, determining whether the current protocol state of the flow entry is an established state for connection; and

in response to determining that the current protocol state of the flow entry is the established state, retaining the flow entry.

17 . The one or more memories according to claim 16 , wherein the controlling the second network device to add the flow entry comprises controlling the second network device to add the flow entry when the protocol state of the flow entry is the established state for connection.

18 . The one or more memories according to claim 16 , wherein the second network device performs message forwarding according to the flow entry.

19 . The one or more memories according to claim 16 , wherein the controlling the second network device to add the flow entry comprises controlling the second network device to add the flow entry in response to determining that the protocol state of the flow entry is the established state for connection.

20 . The one or more memories according to claim 16 , wherein the controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry under the preset condition comprises:

determining whether the received message matching the flow entry satisfies a preset deletion condition; and

in response to determining that the message satisfies the preset deletion condition, controlling the second network device to delete the flow entry.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2026
From: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
To: CLOUD INTELLIGENCE ASSETS HOLDING (SINGAPORE) PRIVATE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 075478/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2022
From: LYU, YILONG
To: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061502/0308 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202010031724.8 · Jan 13, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021070603 · Jan 7, 2021
Related Publication 20220353170A1 · Nov 3, 2022
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