Patent attributes
In one embodiment, a first path computation element (PCE) receives a request from a gateway for service chain functions (SFs) to be applied to a traffic flow, wherein a first subset of the SFs is located in a first zone. The first PCE identifies a boundary node located at a border between the first zone and a second zone where a second subset of the SFs are located. The first PCE sends a response to the gateway indicating a path within the first zone between the gateway and the boundary node to apply the first subset of SFs to the flow. The first PCE provides information regarding the flow and the boundary node to a second PCE that uses the information to configure the boundary node to route the flow in the second zone to apply the second subset of SFs to the flow.
