Implementing novel defense functionality in MPLS networks using hyperspeed signaling

Imagine if a network administrator had powers like the superhero Flash – perceived invisibility, omnipresence and superior surveillance and reconnaissance abilities – that would enable the administrator to send early warnings of threats and trigger mitigation efforts before malicious traffic reaches its target. This paper describes the hyperspeed signaling paradigm, which can endow a network administrator with Flash-like superpowers. Hyperspeed signaling uses optimal (hyperspeed) paths to transmit high priority traffic while other traffic is sent along suboptimal (slower) paths. Slowing the traffic ever so slightly enables the faster command and control messages to implement sophisticated network defense mechanisms. The defense techniques enabled by hyperspeed signaling include distributed filtering, teleporting packets, quarantining network devices, tagging and tracking suspicious packets, projecting holographic network topologies and transfiguring networks. The paper also discusses the principal challenges involved in implementing hyperspeed signaling in MPLS networks.