Intermittent Encapsulation for Network Traffic Preemption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network protocols, such as Ethernet, face challenges in managing packet delay variations due to the transmission of time-critical packets being delayed by lower-priority packets, leading to unacceptable variations in packet delay, which can be alleviated through preemption but results in increased network bandwidth overhead due to encapsulation of all preemptable frames.
Innovation Solution
Implementing intermittent encapsulation of preemptable network traffic, where only frames that satisfy a selective encapsulation rule are encapsulated, reducing aggregate overhead by not encapsulating all frames from a flow, and using preemption headers and trailers to manage the fragmentation and reassembly of preempted frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encapsulation is used to manage preemption of network traffic, then preemption capability is improved, but network bandwidth overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively encapsulating only certain frames that are candidates for preemption, rather than encapsulating all frames. The system identifies specific flows or frames that benefit from preemption capability and applies encapsulation only to those, leaving other frames unencapsulated to minimize overhead while still providing preemption where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different treatment to different frames based on their characteristics. Some frames receive encapsulation for preemption capability while others remain unencapsulated, creating local differentiation in the network traffic handling based on specific flow requirements and preemption needs.
2Reliability
If all frames from a flow are encapsulated to enable preemption, then preemption reliability is improved, but aggregate overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively encapsulating only certain frames that are candidates for preemption, rather than encapsulating all frames. The system identifies specific flows or frames that benefit from preemption capability and applies encapsulation only to those, leaving other frames unencapsulated to minimize overhead while still providing preemption where needed.
3Reliability
If transmission scheduling is used to prevent non-critical packets from occupying the link during scheduled time, then time-critical packet transmission is guaranteed, but link utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling preemption of non-critical packet transmissions when time-critical packets need to be transmitted. Instead of rigidly preventing non-critical packets from using the link during scheduled times, the system dynamically allows preemption when necessary, optimizing both reliability and utilization by adapting to actual traffic conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example method for intermittent encapsulation of preemptable network traffic at a network node can include receiving a frame at the network node and determining if the frame is a preemptable frame. A preemptable frame is a frame that can be preempted, suspended, interrupted, etc. after transmission begins in order to transmit a preemptive frame. If the frame is a preemptable frame, the method can include determining if the preemptable frame satisfies a selective encapsulation rule. If the preemptable frame does not satisfy the selective encapsulation rule, the method can include transmitting the preemptable frame from the network node without encapsulation. Alternatively, if the preemptable frame satisfies the selective encapsulation rule, the method can include encapsulating and transmitting the preemptable frame from the network node. The preemptable frame can be encapsulated with a preemption header and/or a preemption trailer.