MAC-Table Cache for UNI Port Resolution on External SOC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for resolving UNI port information on external System on Chip (SOC) and switches are inefficient, particularly due to the high cost and limited availability of chips supporting ITU-T G.999.1, and the overhead of using VLAN IDs for port information encapsulation, which wastes VLAN tags and requires reorganization of switch VLAN usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a mac-table cache implemented as an ASIC on a packet processing chip to resolve UNI port information, where the chip receives packets, locates source addresses in the cache, and updates the cache if not found, allowing for efficient processing based on UNI port information without relying on expensive hardware protocols or reorganizing VLAN usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chips supporting ITU-T G.999.1 are used to carry port information, then UNI port information can be resolved, but the cost increases and chip availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a software-based mac-table cache that replicates the functionality of expensive G.999.1 hardware chips. Instead of using dedicated hardware ports to carry UNI information, the system copies this functionality into a software data structure (mac-table cache) that maps MAC addresses to UNI ports, making the information accessible without specialized hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based G.999.1 protocol system with a software-based solution. Instead of relying on hardware ports and dedicated chips to carry UNI information, the system uses software tables and algorithms to resolve UNI port information from MAC addresses, substituting hardware mechanisms with software processing
2Loss of information
If VLAN ID is used to carry port information, then UNI port information can be transmitted, but VLAN tags are wasted and switch VLAN usage must be reorganized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the UNI port information from the VLAN tag field and places it into a separate software-based mac-table cache. This separation allows VLAN tags to be used for their original purpose while UNI port information is retrieved independently from the MAC address lookup in the cache, eliminating the need to waste VLAN tags or reorganize switch VLAN usage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mac-table cache that acts as a mediator between MAC address recognition and UNI port identification. Instead of directly encoding UNI information in VLAN tags, the system uses this intermediate data structure to map MAC addresses to UNI ports, decoupling the two functions and avoiding VLAN tag waste
3Reliability
If VLAN ID encapsulation is used for upstream traffic, then port information is resolved, but downstream traffic processing becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal mac-table cache that serves both upstream and downstream traffic processing needs. The same data structure and lookup mechanism work for both directions, providing multi-functional capability that resolves UNI port information regardless of traffic flow direction, unlike VLAN-based solutions that work differently for upstream versus downstream
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method of using a mac-table cache to resolve UNI port information on an external system of chip (SOC) is provide. The method comprises, receiving, by a packet processing chip, a packet with a source address (SA); locating, by the packet processing chip, the SA in a mac-table cache implemented on the packet processing chip; and looking up a SOC mac-table implemented on the external SOC if the SA cannot be found in the mac-table cache.