Hardware Packet Classifier for Wireless Access Point Priority Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi access points face performance issues due to time-consuming packet classification processes, which affect the quality of real-time communication and engagement applications by requiring software scanning of network packets, leading to lower priority assignment and delayed transmission.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hardware data packet classifier in Wi-Fi access points that receives classification identifiers from RTC/RTE devices to classify and prioritize packets directly at the hardware layer, reducing reliance on software processing and enhancing transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If software scanning is used to classify network packets, then packet classification can be performed, but the classification process becomes time-consuming and reduces transmission priority
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based packet scanning with hardware-based classification using a network processor that performs classification at the hardware layer. This substitution of mechanical/software processing with hardware processing significantly reduces classification time while maintaining accuracy, directly resolving the contradiction between classification precision and processing time loss.
2Measurement precision
If software scanning is used for packet classification, then classification can be performed, but transmission priority is reduced and forwarding performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements hardware-based classification using a network processor that operates in parallel with the software scanning process. This hardware classification performs packet identification and priority assignment at the hardware layer, maintaining high forwarding performance while achieving accurate classification, thus resolving the contradiction between classification accuracy and forwarding productivity.
3Speed
If hardware classification is implemented, then classification speed improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network processor as an intermediary component between the wireless interface and the main processor. This intermediary handles packet classification at the hardware layer, providing fast classification speed while isolating the complexity from the main system architecture. The network processor acts as a dedicated classification engine that simplifies the overall system design by concentrating classification functionality in a specialized component.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless access point software application, adapted to be run within a wireless access point, classifies network data packets with classification identifiers provided by RTC/RTE devices without scanning the content of them. The wireless access point software application receives inbound and outbound packet classification identifiers from the RTC/RTE applications running on the RTC/RTE devices. The identifiers are provided to a hardware data packet classifier. The hardware data packet classifier applies the identifiers against ingress packets and egress packets respectively. Data packets of the same class are assigned with a same priority. The prioritized network data packets are scheduled for transmission based on their respective priorities. The scheduled network data packets are forwarded to respective network interfaces for transmission.