Network Device Scheduler Stage One Arbiter Packet Arbitration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current network devices face challenges in efficiently managing and arbitrating packet requests across multiple sub-ports operating at different rates and protocols, leading to inefficiencies in data transmission and storage.
Innovation Solution
A machine-implemented method and network device architecture that includes a stage one arbiter to determine pending requests, block other requests when pending, select high-priority requests with available resources, and send them to a stage two arbiter for further prioritization, ensuring efficient packet transmission across sub-ports compliant with various protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a network device manages packet requests across multiple sub-ports operating at different rates and protocols, then the device can support diverse network protocols and transmission rates, but the complexity of arbitrating and managing these requests increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arbitration process is divided into two distinct stages: stage one arbitration handles initial request filtering and prioritization, while stage two arbitration manages final resource allocation. This segmentation reduces the complexity of managing multiple sub-ports by breaking down the arbitration function into manageable components, each handling specific aspects of request management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary arbitration mechanism between the receive queue and the sub-ports. This intermediary layer processes and prioritizes requests before they reach the sub-ports, simplifying the management of diverse protocols and transmission rates by creating a buffer that standardizes request handling.
2Productivity
If the network device uses a single-stage arbitration system, then the device complexity is lower, but the efficiency of packet transmission and resource allocation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The arbitration system is segmented into two stages that work in sequence. Stage one performs initial request evaluation and prioritization, while stage two handles final resource allocation. This segmentation enables more thorough processing of packet requests, improving transmission efficiency without creating an unmanageably complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
Stage one arbitration performs preliminary actions by filtering and prioritizing requests before they reach stage two. This preliminary processing reduces the workload on stage two and ensures that only relevant requests proceed to final allocation, improving overall system efficiency.
3Productivity
If the network device allows multiple requests to be processed simultaneously, then the productivity increases, but requests with lower priority may be transmitted instead of high-priority requests
Solution Approach 1:
Stage one arbitration performs preliminary prioritization of requests based on their importance and urgency. By evaluating and ranking requests before they reach stage two, the system ensures that high-priority requests are ready for transmission while maintaining the ability to process multiple requests simultaneously in stage two.
Solution Approach 2:
The arbitration system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the results of stage one arbitration influence stage two processing. Priority information and request status are fed back through the arbitration stages, ensuring that high-priority requests receive appropriate transmission resources while maintaining high processing throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for a network device are provided. The network device includes a stage one arbiter for a base-port having a plurality of sub-ports for determining if there are any pending requests; blocking any other requests from a same receive queue destined for a same sub-port, same transmit queue when there are any pending requests; selecting a group of requests with a highest priority and available resources; selecting highest priority requests; selecting an oldest one of the highest priority requests; sending the selected requests to a stage two arbiter for selecting a request with a highest priority and when there are requests that have a same priority, selecting an oldest request for processing.