Management Node NIC Packet Distribution Rule
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network interface card (NIC) configurations face challenges with Head of Line Blocking (HoL Blocking) and increased implementation size due to the need for multiple buffers and rate control timers for each destination ID, leading to inefficient network utilization and hardware complexity.
Innovation Solution
A management node determines and sends rules to distribute packets across multiple rate control units in the NIC, allowing for efficient packet distribution to multiple destination terminals while minimizing the NIC's implementation size by sharing rate control units and reducing the likelihood of HoL Blocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple buffers and rate control timers are provided for each destination ID in the NIC, then packet transmission accuracy to multiple destinations is improved, but the NIC implementation size and hardware complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rate control function by providing multiple rate control units (first rate control unit, second rate control unit, etc.) in the NIC, each capable of independently controlling packet transmission rates. This allows different destination IDs to be assigned to different rate control units, enabling accurate rate control for multiple destinations while keeping each individual rate control unit's buffer and timer resources limited and manageable
Solution Approach 2:
Each rate control unit in the NIC is designed to handle multiple destination IDs universally. The rate control units can be dynamically assigned to different destination IDs based on transmission needs, allowing the same hardware resources (buffer and rate control timer) to serve multiple destinations across different time periods, thus reducing the need for dedicated resources for each destination ID
2Device complexity
If a single FIFO queue is used for all destination IDs, then the NIC configuration is simplified, but Head of Line Blocking occurs and network utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet queue into multiple FIFO queues, with each queue associated with a specific rate control unit and capable of handling packets for multiple destination IDs. This segmentation prevents Head of Line Blocking because packets for different destinations can be transmitted through different queues and rate control units simultaneously, while still maintaining a manageable NIC configuration without requiring dedicated queues for each destination ID
3Measurement precision
If dedicated rate control units are provided for each destination ID, then packet transmission control accuracy is improved, but the number of buffers and rate control timers increases leading to larger NIC size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes rate control units universal by enabling each rate control unit to serve multiple destination IDs. The NIC includes a destination ID to rate control unit mapping mechanism that dynamically assigns destination IDs to appropriate rate control units. This allows a limited number of rate control units to provide accurate rate control for a large number of destination IDs, reducing the total number of buffers and rate control timers needed while maintaining high rate control accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a management node and the like for enabling packets to be efficiently sent to a plurality of destination terminals, while preventing the increase of implementation scale of network interface cards (NIC). The management node includes: a rule determination means for determining a prescribed rule for distributing packets to a plurality of rate control means included in the network interface cards (NIC) provided to the terminals; and a rule sending means for sending the determined prescribed rule to the terminals.