Hardware Queue Buffering for Mobile Network Data Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile network devices face inefficiencies in buffering data traffic when a data path to a base station is unavailable, relying on CPU-intensive control plane processes that suffer from lower performance due to packet copying between hardware and main memory.
Innovation Solution
Allocating a hardware queue for buffering data traffic destined for a mobile device when the data path is unavailable, allowing the network device to repurpose existing queues for buffering, thereby reducing CPU cycles and avoiding reliance on control plane processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control plane processes are used for buffering data traffic, then data can be buffered when data path is unavailable, but CPU cycles are consumed and performance is reduced due to packet copying between hardware and main memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffering function from the control plane software processes and relocates it to hardware queues in the data path. This separates the buffering operation from CPU-intensive control plane processing, allowing packets to be buffered directly in hardware without copying to main memory, thereby maintaining reliability while improving processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hardware queues as an intermediary layer between the data path and main memory. These queues act as a buffer that can hold packets when the data path is unavailable, eliminating the need for CPU intervention and packet copying, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable buffering and processing efficiency
2Productivity
If hardware queues are used for buffering, then processing efficiency is improved by reducing CPU cycles, but existing queues must be repurposed from their original scheduling function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic allocation of hardware queues based on data path availability. When a data path becomes unavailable, previously dedicated queues are dynamically repurposed for buffering. When the data path becomes available again, the queues return to their original scheduling function. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing queue functionality to change based on operational conditions
3Use of energy by moving object
If data path is unavailable for packet transmission, then mobile device can enter power saving or idle mode, but data traffic cannot be transmitted and must be buffered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary buffering action in hardware queues before the data path becomes available. When the data path is unavailable and the mobile device enters power saving mode, incoming packets are pre-buffered in hardware queues rather than being dropped or requiring CPU intervention. This preliminary buffering ensures that when the data path becomes available, transmission can resume immediately without delay, resolving the contradiction between power saving and transmission timing
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for buffering data traffic destined for a mobile device when a data path to a base station for the mobile device is unavailable. For example, a network device comprises: a control unit comprising processing circuitry, wherein the control unit is configured to allocate, in response to determining that a data path from the network device to the base station for a mobile device is unavailable, a hardware queue of a packet processor of the network device to the data path; and a forwarding component with access to the hardware queue, wherein the forwarding component is configured to store data traffic for the mobile device to the allocated hardware queue, wherein the control unit is configured to, in response determining that the data path is available, configure the forwarding component to output the data traffic from the allocated hardware queue to the base station along the data path.