Dynamic Buffer Allocation for Packet Forwarding Queues
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gateway systems with multiple output ports and queues face challenges in managing buffer resources efficiently, leading to queue congestion and high hardware costs, especially when trying to balance priority queues and optimize throughput and service quality.
Innovation Solution
A packet forwarding device with a memory circuit and queue management circuit that dynamically allocates and adjusts buffer resources among priority queues based on congestion and packet drop rates, increasing buffers for congested queues and decreasing them for lower-priority queues to optimize throughput and service quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of buffers are provided for each queue, then queue congestion can be avoided, but a lot of hardware costs are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer allocation where the queue management circuit continuously monitors queue status and adjusts buffer allocation in real-time. Buffers are allocated to queues based on current traffic conditions and priority levels rather than providing fixed large buffers to all queues, thus avoiding congestion while reducing overall hardware requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different buffer allocation strategies to different queues based on their priority levels. High-priority queues receive sufficient buffers when needed, while low-priority queues receive fewer buffers, optimizing the distribution of buffer resources according to local (per-queue) requirements rather than uniform allocation
2Productivity
If buffers are dynamically adjusted based on congestion, then throughput is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The queue management circuit implements a feedback mechanism that monitors queue status (congestion level, packet drop rate) and uses this information to dynamically adjust buffer allocation. The system continuously observes queue conditions and modifies buffer distribution accordingly, enabling adaptive throughput optimization while keeping the control logic relatively simple through rule-based adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A packet forwarding device and a queue management method are provided. The queue management method is applicable to a plurality of priority queues each associated with a different transmission priority. The queue management method includes: allocating at least one buffer from a free buffer pool to each of the priority queues; monitoring a number of dropped packets of an observation queue of the priority queues; and increasing a number of buffers for the observation queue and decreasing a number of buffers for at least one of the priority queues which has a lower transmission priority than the observation queue, according to the number of dropped packets.