Network Analyzer Card Descriptor Addition for CPU Interruption Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network analyser cards interrupt the host CPU frequently, leading to reduced performance due to the need for frequent data packet retrieval and handling, which can result in packet loss and decreased analysis efficiency, especially in applications requiring real-time data processing.
Innovation Solution
A network analyser card method that adds descriptors to data frames with information such as frame length, order, and channel origin, allowing for efficient navigation and merging of data packets in host memory without frequent CPU interruptions, enabling direct access and processing by the host application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the host CPU retrieves and handles data packets frequently, then data analysis can be performed, but CPU performance is reduced due to excessive interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The network analyser card adds descriptors to data frames in advance, including information about frame length, order, and channel origin. This preliminary organization of data allows the host application to directly access and process packets without requiring frequent CPU interruptions for data retrieval and navigation, thus improving data analysis efficiency while reducing CPU time spent on interrupt handling
2Speed
If data packets are stored in host memory, then real-time data rate storage is achieved, but packet loss occurs when memory buffers are full and CPU cannot analyse packets quickly enough
Solution Approach 1:
The network analyser card organizes data packets in advance by adding descriptors that contain information about frame length, order, and channel origin. This preliminary organization allows the host application to efficiently navigate and process packets in real-time, reducing the likelihood of packet loss when memory buffers are full by enabling faster data retrieval and analysis
Solution Approach 2:
Descriptors act as an intermediary structure between the raw data frames and the host application processing. The descriptors provide metadata that enables the application to efficiently access and process packets without requiring the CPU to handle each packet individually, thus maintaining high storage rates while reducing packet loss through more efficient data management
3Ease of operation
If descriptors are added to data frames, then efficient navigation and merging of packets is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data frame structure is segmented by adding separate descriptor fields for frame length, order, and channel origin information. This segmentation of metadata allows the host application to efficiently navigate and merge packets from multiple channels by directly accessing specific descriptor fields, simplifying the navigation process while the added structure is managed by the network analyser card hardware
Data Source
AI summary
In conventional systems the CPU is altered after a data frame has been received and the packet stored in a host buffer. This interrupts normal operation of the CPU and applications, which is determined to systems performance. The invention relates to a method of transferring data from a network to a host using a network analyzer card, where a plurality of data frames from a network link is received and a descriptor is added to the frame. The descriptor includes data about the frame; each data frame and its or their attached descriptor is transferred to a host memory.