US Patent 11374848 Explicit routing with network function encoding

A method of routing a data packet through a network comprises updating at least one router local forwarding table to include path IDs of network segments defining paths between network nodes and network function bit encoding/decoding information. In response to a data packet arriving at an ingress network node, an encapsulation header including a path ID identifying at least one network segment of an explicit routing path and a bit encoding specifying network functions to be performed on the data packet are encapsulated in unused portions of the source address and/or the destination address in the encapsulation header. A network node in the explicit routing path performs a network function encoded in the source address and/or the destination address of the encapsulation header of the data packet and forwards the data packet based on network function bit encoding/decoding and path ID information in the network node's local updated local forwarding table.