Communication Interface Controller for Gapless Packet Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional implementations of the Forwarding and Queuing of Time-Sensitive Streams (FQTSS) standard are wasteful with bandwidth and limit deterministic operation due to inefficient scheduling, particularly for lower priority queues, leading to inadequate bandwidth allocation and failure to satisfy deterministic behavior for multiple priority classes.
Innovation Solution
A communication interface controller that multiplexes data packet streams based on Quality of Service (QoS) and priority, scheduling transmissions at a rate equal to or greater than the medium transfer rate to ensure gapless scheduling and transmission, avoiding idle times and optimizing bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional FQTSS scheduling is used with bandwidth measurement intervals of 125 us or 250 us, then simplicity of implementation is maintained, but bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates due to idle time between transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static periodic scheduling intervals to dynamic event-driven scheduling. The interface controller continuously monitors packet availability and schedules transmissions immediately when packets are ready, rather than waiting for fixed bandwidth measurement intervals. This dynamic approach eliminates idle time and maximizes bandwidth utilization while maintaining implementation feasibility through hardware-based packet monitoring and scheduling logic.
2Reliability
If high priority packets are transmitted first in conventional scheduling, then high priority service quality is improved, but bandwidth available for lower priority queues deteriorates, limiting deterministic operation for multiple priority classes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by ensuring that the transmission medium is continuously utilized without idle periods. The interface controller schedules packets from multiple priority classes back-to-back based on their availability and priority, eliminating gaps between transmissions. This continuous scheduling approach allows lower priority packets to be transmitted during what would otherwise be idle time, thereby increasing overall bandwidth availability for multiple priority classes while maintaining high priority service quality.
3Loss of energy
If scheduling rate is slower than medium transfer rate, then implementation complexity is reduced, but gapless scheduling cannot be achieved, resulting in bandwidth wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing software-based periodic scheduling mechanisms with hardware-based continuous monitoring and scheduling logic. The interface controller uses hardware circuits to monitor packet availability in real-time and trigger transmissions immediately when packets are ready, operating at the full medium transfer rate. This hardware-based approach achieves gapless scheduling and eliminates bandwidth wastage while managing complexity through dedicated scheduling logic rather than software polling.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication interface controller for multiplexing data packet streams from a plurality of data packets to generate an output stream for transmission from an endpoint. The data packet streams may be multiplexed according to a QoS associated with each data packet stream and at a rate equal to or greater than a medium transmission rate. For the case of a 1 Gbps transfer rate or 125 MBps, the data packet streams may be multiplexed at a rate equal to or greater than 1 MHz, thereby providing gapless scheduling and transmission of the data packet streams.