| CPC H04L 45/24 (2013.01) [H04L 12/4633 (2013.01); H04L 45/245 (2013.01); H04L 2212/00 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method performed at a first network device for sending packets to a second network device, comprising:
(a) receiving a datagram for sending the datagram to the second network device;
(b) selecting, based on a tunnel selection criterion, at least one tunnel;
(c) creating a payload with the datagram by encrypting the datagram;
(d) creating an aggregated tunnel header corresponding to an aggregated tunnel;
(e) encapsulating a core identity, the payload and the aggregated tunnel header to create one or more encapsulation-packets; and
(f) sending the one or more encapsulation-packets to the second network device via the at least one tunnel;
wherein:
the aggregated tunnel comprises a plurality of tunnels and the at least one tunnel is in the plurality of tunnels;
the second network device decrypts the payload to retrieve the datagram;
the datagram is assigned with a core based on a data session associated with the datagram and the core is associated with the core identity;
the data session of the datagram is determined according to a data session identification process; and
the core identity is received by the first network device from the second network device when the aggregated tunnel is established.
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