Variable Length Tag Processing in FCoE Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variable length tags in Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames cause difficulties in parsing frames, as they disrupt the position of subsequent frame fields, making it challenging for adapter components to detect and process frame headers effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves maintaining a data structure to determine the tag size of received frames and inserting blank characters to standardize the tag size to a programmable size, allowing uniform processing of frames by adapter components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable length tags are used in FCoE frames, then the frame format can accommodate different tag types, but the position of subsequent frame fields becomes disrupted, making it difficult for adapter components to detect and process frame headers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator component that sits between the variable length tags and the frame processing logic. This mediator maintains a data structure mapping tag types to their respective sizes, and automatically pads shorter tags with blank characters to reach a standardized length. This intermediary layer allows the system to accommodate various tag types while presenting a uniform interface to the frame header detection mechanism, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and detection difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of tag length from variable to fixed by introducing padding. The system detects the actual tag size, compares it with the expected standardized size, and inserts blank characters to bridge the difference. This parameter transformation allows the frame processing logic to operate with fixed-length assumptions while the underlying system continues to support variable-length tag types, thus resolving the detection difficulty without sacrificing adaptability.
2Productivity
If blank characters are inserted to standardize tag size, then frame processing becomes easier and more efficient, but additional processing steps are required to determine and pad tag sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing tag size information in a data structure during system initialization or configuration. When a frame arrives, the system simply looks up the tag size in the pre-prepared data structure rather than analyzing the tag content in real-time. This preliminary preparation eliminates complex real-time analysis and enables rapid determination of tag sizes, thus improving frame processing efficiency while keeping the additional processing steps minimal and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically determining tag sizes and performing padding operations without requiring manual configuration or complex external intervention. The data structure maintains tag size information, and the processing logic autonomously compares actual tag sizes with standardized sizes, inserting blank characters as needed. This self-service mechanism handles the complexity internally, presenting a simplified interface to the broader system while maintaining high processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Machine implemented method and system for processing frames received by a network device from another network device via a network link are provided. The network device is configured to maintain a data structure to determine a tag size of a tag received in a frame header of a frame received by the network device; determine if the tag size is less than a fixed programmable size; insert a blank character to increase the tag size to the programmable size; and process the frame with the tag having the programmable size.