Residential Gateway Packet Classification Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential gateway access points face increased processing loads due to higher bandwidth and Internet of Things (IoT) demands, necessitating a method to alleviate the intensive packet classification processing burden.
Innovation Solution
Offloading packet classification processing from the access point to a hardware accelerator within the residential gateway, where the accelerator performs packet classification and provides the necessary information to the access point, allowing it to rely on a 'WiFi cookie' for subsequent packet processing, thereby reducing the processing load on the access point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packet classification processing is performed at the access point, then packet classification accuracy is maintained, but processing load on the access point increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the packet classification processing function from the access point and relocates it to a dedicated classification device. This separation removes the computationally intensive classification tasks from the access point's workload while maintaining accurate classification through the specialized device, directly resolving the contradiction between maintaining classification accuracy and reducing processing load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated classification device as an intermediary component between the network and the access point. This intermediary handles all packet classification operations, allowing the access point to receive only already-classified packets, thus eliminating the trade-off between classification accuracy and processing load by making the classification function independent.
2Reliability
If packet classification processing is performed at the access point, then classification functionality is maintained, but system throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the packet classification function from the access point and placing it in a dedicated classification device, the system eliminates the processing bottleneck at the access point. This allows packets to be classified in parallel outside the main throughput path, maintaining full classification functionality while increasing overall system throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packet processing system into distinct functional components: a classification device for packet classification and an access point for wireless communication. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, with the classification device handling classification independently so it does not impede the access point's throughput capability.
3Reliability
If access point processes all packets, then packet handling completeness is ensured, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy-intensive packet classification processing from the access point and relocates it to a separate classification device. This ensures that all packets are still classified completely (maintaining packet handling completeness) while significantly reducing the access point's energy consumption by eliminating its classification processing burden.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for offloading packet classification processing of an access point in a residential gateway. A residential gateway includes a wireless access point and a processing circuit. The processing circuit receives a data packet from a network via a network port, processes the data packet to obtain packet classification information for the data packet, and sends the data packet with the packet classification information to the access point. The access point may process the data packet based on the packet classification information received from the processing circuit. The packet classification information includes at least one of a basic service set identifier, a station identifier, and an access category. The processing circuit may include a packet accelerator. The packet accelerator may write a cookie including the packet classification information in a packet descriptor for the data packet.