US Patent 9871703 Data plane distribution of control messages

Techniques of executing commands in forwarding nodes are discussed. Control messages are recursively included within each other and distributed in a data plane formed by a network of the forwarding nodes. A given control message can include a command which is executed by a respective forwarding node. The given control message further includes a further control message to be sent to a further forwarding node by the respective forwarding node. The control messages are created by a control node which is configured for controlling operation of the network of forwarding nodes.