Centralized Buffer Allocation via Credit Redemption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional buffer management and interprocess communication methods in computer systems are suboptimal, lacking efficient mechanisms for buffer allocation and management across nodes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow nodes to request buffers or credits from a central authority, with policies governing the maximum number of buffers outstanding for each node type, enabling efficient buffer allocation and management across nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional buffer management methods are used, then buffer allocation is simple, but buffer allocation efficiency and resource utilization are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
A central authority is introduced as an intermediary between multiple nodes to manage buffer allocation. The central authority receives buffer requests from nodes, checks policy compliance, and allocates buffers centrally. This mediator approach improves overall buffer allocation efficiency and resource utilization while maintaining policy control, at the cost of increased system complexity due to the additional central authority component.
2Quantity of substance
If buffers are freely allocated to nodes, then nodes have sufficient buffer resources, but buffer overallocation occurs exceeding system capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control through policy checking at the central authority. When a node requests buffers, the central authority checks the request against predefined policies that consider current system state and outstanding buffer counts. This feedback mechanism ensures nodes receive sufficient buffers for their needs while preventing overallocation that would exceed system capacity, thereby maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a central authority manages buffer allocation, then buffer allocation policy compliance is ensured, but allocation time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Buffer allocation policies are predefined and established in advance before actual buffer requests occur. The central authority has pre-configured policy rules that allow for rapid compliance checking during buffer allocation. This preliminary action of setting up policies beforehand ensures policy compliance is maintained while minimizing the time required for actual allocation decisions, as the checking process relies on pre-established criteria rather than complex real-time analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method provides an integrated buffer management with flow control, in some cases via credits that may be redeemed for buffers, and interprocess communication.