Streaming Segmentation and Reassembly in ATM Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data communication systems using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks experience significant delays due to the segmentation and reassembly process, particularly when transmitting data over wireless communication links, as they wait for complete frames before transmitting segments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a streaming segmentation and reassembly (SAR) method that allows ATM cells to be transmitted before the end-of-packet indication is received, using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to manage the process, enabling early transmission of cells and reducing latency by streaming data between the application and the transmission convergence function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system waits for complete frames before transmitting segments over ATM network, then data integrity is ensured, but transmission delay increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing segmentation of data into ATM cells before the complete frame is received. The system segments data as it arrives, transmits cells preliminarily without waiting for frame completion, and only adds trailers and performs error checking after the entire frame is received and validated. This resolves the contradiction by enabling early transmission (reducing delay) while maintaining integrity through post-reception validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the data transmission process into distinct phases: initial segmentation into cells for preliminary transmission, followed by complete frame reception, error checking, and trailer addition. This allows the system to transmit segments independently while ensuring overall data integrity through the multi-stage process, resolving the contradiction between early transmission and data integrity.
2Loss of time
If the system transmits ATM cells before receiving end-of-packet indication, then transmission latency is reduced, but risk of transmitting incomplete or erroneous data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting ATM cells before the complete frame is received and validated. The system segments data as it arrives and transmits cells preliminarily without waiting for end-of-packet indication, thereby reducing transmission latency. The trailer addition and error checking are performed as a preliminary validation step after reception but the transmission has already been initiated, allowing early transmission while maintaining a validation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation mechanism where the trailer and error checking serve as a mediator between preliminary transmission and final data acceptance. The system transmits cells early but uses the trailer validation as an intermediary check to ensure data accuracy, allowing the contradiction between early transmission and data accuracy to be resolved through this mediating validation layer.
3Device complexity
If the system processes complete frames before transmission, then error checking is simplified, but transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the processing into distinct stages: initial segmentation into cells for transmission, followed by separate trailer addition and error checking phases. This segmentation allows transmission to proceed independently of complete frame validation, improving efficiency while keeping each processing stage relatively simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing cell segmentation and transmission before complete frame processing. This preliminary transmission phase separates the time-critical segmentation function from the validation function, allowing transmission efficiency to improve while processing complexity is distributed across multiple simpler stages rather than requiring complex simultaneous processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided that enable streaming of ATM cells between a transmit/receive data processing application and a transmission convergence function. Data to be segmented into an ATM cell is received at a SAR engine, and provided to a transmission convergence function, with the first cells transmitted to the transmission convergence function before the SAR function receives an end-of-packet indication from the optimization engine. Data received at a transmission convergence function is placed in a received packet queue at the SAR function, with packets provided to an application after a start-of-packet indication is received, and before an end-of-packet indication is received, at the SAR function.