DetNet Flow Segregation via Distribution Thread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network communication technologies, particularly in Deterministic Networking (DetNet), face challenges in ensuring low data loss rates and bounded latency for real-time applications, as they lack support for DetNet flows within best-effort forwarding processes, leading to potential interference and compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
The method introduces distribution threads, DetNet forwarding threads, and cycle forwarding threads to segregate and prioritize DetNet flows, ensuring they are not affected by best-effort flows, by distributing packets into specific queues and forwarding them through a segmented routing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If DetNet flows are forwarded using best-effort forwarding method, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and bounded latency cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the forwarding process into two independent paths: best-effort forwarding for general traffic and DetNet-specific forwarding for deterministic traffic. This is achieved by creating separate forwarding threads (DetNet forwarding thread and cycle forwarding thread) and separate queue structures (DBQ, DTQ, CSQ) that operate independently, allowing each path to optimize for its specific requirements without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the DetNet flow handling from the best-effort forwarding process by introducing a dedicated DetNet forwarding thread that operates independently. This thread specifically handles packets marked as DetNet flows, separating them from the general best-effort forwarding path, thereby ensuring that DetNet packets receive guaranteed service while maintaining the simplicity of best-effort forwarding for other traffic.
2Reliability
If separate forwarding mechanisms are introduced for DetNet flows, then reliability and bounded latency are guaranteed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the DetNet forwarding functionality with the existing best-effort forwarding infrastructure by using a unified packet receiving queue and a single distribution thread that handles both DetNet and best-effort packets. The separation is achieved at the thread level rather than requiring completely separate hardware or software stacks, thus reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability guarantees.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution thread is designed with multi-functionality, handling both DetNet packets and best-effort packets within the same thread and queue structure. This universal approach allows the system to maintain a simpler overall architecture while still providing specialized handling for DetNet flows through conditional logic and separate forwarding threads that share the same infrastructure.
3Loss of time
If DetNet packets are prioritized over best-effort packets, then bounded latency is achieved, but best-effort flow performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet processing into separate queues (DBQ for DetNet packets, BTQ for best-effort packets) and separate forwarding threads. This segmentation ensures that DetNet packets are processed with priority guarantees while best-effort packets continue to be processed independently, preventing any deterioration in best-effort performance due to DetNet prioritization.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting DetNet packet handling into a separate forwarding thread that operates independently from the best-effort forwarding thread, the patent ensures that DetNet priority handling does not interfere with best-effort flow processing. The two threads operate in parallel with dedicated queues, eliminating resource contention and performance degradation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a method and an apparatus for transmitting DetNet flow. Through the embodiments of the present application, the embodiment can realize providing DetNet flow forwarding on the basis of the existing best-effort flow forwarding. Further, through the above distribution thread, DFT, and CFT in a network device, it can be ensured that the DetNet flow forwarding is not affected by best-effort flow forwarding, and the mutual compatibility of existing best-effort flow forwarding and DetNet flow forwarding can be guaranteed.