Interworking Unit for Ethernet Frame Relay QoS Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Ethernet and Frame Relay networks face challenges in supporting multiple Quality of Service (QoS) levels, as legacy standards only allow for single QoS per interface, leading to issues with traffic management and service guarantees across different network technologies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an Interworking Unit (IWU) that identifies packets based on network protocols and determines QoS metrics to enable multiple QoS support between Ethernet and Frame Relay networks, using techniques such as queuing, scheduling, and policing to ensure ordered delivery and segregation of traffic classes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy Ethernet and Frame Relay standards are used, then device complexity is reduced, but multiple QoS support is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Interworking Unit (IWU) as an intermediary device between Ethernet and Frame Relay networks. The IWU performs protocol translation and QoS mapping, allowing multiple QoS levels to be supported across heterogeneous networks without requiring every node to implement complex multi-QoS functionality. This mediator approach enables QoS interoperability while keeping individual network elements relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the QoS functionality by separating the QoS marking function (performed by the IWU) from the QoS enforcement function (performed by individual network elements). The IWU identifies packets and assigns QoS parameters, while downstream devices simply forward packets based on these parameters. This segmentation allows multiple QoS support at the network boundary without complicating internal network infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If single QoS per interface is implemented, then ease of operation is maintained, but traffic management capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends QoS from a single-dimensional interface parameter to a multi-dimensional packet attribute system. By examining multiple packet fields (VLAN tags, Diff-Serv codepoints, IP precedence bits) and mapping them to Frame Relay DLCI parameters, the system creates additional dimensions for traffic differentiation. This allows rich traffic management capabilities while maintaining simple operational interfaces at each individual node.
3Reliability
If protocol mapping is performed without QoS consideration, then device complexity is reduced, but service guarantees are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs QoS parameter mapping and packet identification actions at the network boundary (Interworking Unit) before packets enter the Frame Relay network. By preliminarily marking packets with appropriate QoS parameters during the translation phase, the system ensures service guarantees are established upfront. This preliminary action approach allows complex QoS handling to be concentrated at the edge devices rather than throughout the entire network, maintaining reliability without widespread complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of supporting multiple quality of service (QoS) levels for data being transmitted between two networking devices, such as customer equipment (CE), that use Ethernet and Frame Relay (FR). The method supports multiple QoS services in a network where a first CE is connected to a first edge device (interworking unit) using the Ethernet protocol and a second CE is connected to a second edge device using the FR protocol. The edge devices may be directly connected together or they may be connected through a network backbone using any generally accepted network protocol. The first CE may be connected to the first edge device using a single Ethernet port, multiple Ethernet ports, a single virtual local area network (VLAN), or multiple VLAN's. The second CE is connected to an edge device using a single data link connection (DLC), or multiple DLC's. The method ensures QoS for data transmitted between the first and the second CE via the Ethernet protocol to the FR protocol and vice versa.