Layer 2 Switch End-to-End Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems between devices operating on different networks face challenges in ensuring reliable data integrity and flow control, particularly in networks with limited capacity, where traditional protocols may implement stop or discard processes, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involve receiving and updating end-to-end flow control representations, selecting logical connections based on credit values, and generating and transmitting flow control representations to manage data transmission effectively across networks, ensuring reliable data integrity and packet integrity between end nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional stop or discard processes are used for flow control, then data integrity can be maintained, but network productivity decreases due to inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements end-to-end flow control by exchanging flow control representations between network nodes. Each node receives flow control information from the destination node and uses it to manage its own transmission, creating a feedback loop that maintains data integrity while enabling efficient resource utilization. The credit value mechanism provides continuous feedback about available buffer space, allowing senders to adjust transmission rates dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing flow control representations and credit values before actual data transmission begins. The destination node preemptively informs the source node about its receiving capacity and available buffer space, allowing the source node to plan its transmission schedule in advance and avoid blocking situations that would reduce network productivity.
2Reliability
If end-to-end flow control is implemented using layer 4 information in layer 2 switches, then flow control reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the layer 2 switch multi-functional by enabling it to process layer 4 flow control information while maintaining its primary layer 2 switching function. The switch uses existing hardware resources (buffer memory, processing units) to handle flow control representations, allowing a single device to perform both data forwarding and end-to-end flow control without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flow control representations as intermediary data structures that carry layer 4 flow control information through the layer 2 switching infrastructure. These representations act as mediators between the source and destination nodes, enabling flow control functionality to be implemented in intermediate switches without requiring direct layer 4 processing at every node, thus reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If head of line blocking is reduced through improved flow control, then network productivity increases, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service flow control where the network nodes automatically manage their own buffer spaces and transmission rates based on exchanged flow control representations. The destination node self-informs the source node about its receiving capacity, and the source node autonomously adjusts its transmission without requiring external monitoring or intervention, simplifying the detection and measurement of flow control effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus configured to receive a first end-to-end flow control representation for at least one logical connection from a first further apparatus to a second further apparatus, update at least one end-to-end credit value for the at least one logical connection from the first further apparatus to the second further apparatus dependent on the first end-to-end flow control representation, select at least one logical connection to the second further apparatus dependent on the end-to-end credit value, generate a second end-to-end flow control representation for the at least one logical connection to the second further apparatus, and transmit the second end-to-end flow control representation addressed to the second further apparatus.