Communication Apparatus Hardware Software Protocol Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication apparatuses face reduced processing speed and increased software size due to the reliance on software for data link and network layer processing, especially in establishing TCP sessions, which is inefficient and burdensome.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus is designed with a hardware protocol processing unit and a software protocol processing unit, where the hardware unit performs initial protocol processing and generates information for the software unit to complete any remaining processing, optimizing the division of labor between hardware and software for faster throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software is used for data link layer and network layer processing, then the communication apparatus can handle various protocols flexibly, but the processing speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol processing function is segmented into two parts: a hardware protocol processing unit that handles data link layer and network layer processing, and a software protocol processing unit that handles transport layer and above processing. This segmentation allows the hardware unit to provide high-speed processing for lower-layer protocols while maintaining flexibility through the software unit for upper-layer protocols, thereby resolving the contradiction between processing speed and protocol flexibility.
2Device complexity
If software is used for data link layer and network layer processing, then the communication apparatus can maintain simplicity in hardware design, but the software size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the protocol processing between hardware and software, the hardware design remains relatively simple while only the necessary data link layer and network layer functions are implemented in hardware. The software unit handles the remaining protocol processing, which reduces the overall software size compared to implementing all protocol layers in software, thus resolving the contradiction between hardware simplicity and software size.
3Speed
If dedicated hardware is provided for TCP/IP processing, then high-speed communication is achieved, but the software size increases due to including data link layer and network layer functions
Solution Approach 1:
The data link layer and network layer protocol processing functions are extracted from the software and implemented in the hardware protocol processing unit. This extraction reduces the software size by removing these functions from the software code, while the hardware unit provides high-speed processing for these extracted functions, thereby resolving the contradiction between communication speed and software size.
4Ease of operation
If all protocol processing is done by software, then the system is easier to program and maintain, but the processing throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol processing is segmented such that time-critical data link layer and network layer processing is handled by hardware to improve throughput, while upper-layer processing remains in software for ease of programming and maintenance. This segmentation allows the system to maintain programmability for the software portion while achieving high throughput through hardware acceleration, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and processing throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus of one embodiment includes a hardware protocol processing unit, a software protocol processing unit, a hardware protocol process information generating unit to generate protocol process information from the result of the processing by the hardware protocol processing unit, a software protocol process resumption unit to perform control of the software protocol processing unit using the protocol process information generated by the hardware protocol process information generating unit, a software protocol process information generating unit to generate protocol process information from the result of the processing by the software protocol processing unit, and a hardware protocol process resumption unit to perform control of the hardware protocol processing unit using the protocol process information generated by the software protocol process information generating unit.