Network Offload Module Tunneled Packet Offset Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network communication systems face challenges in efficiently processing tunneled packets due to the inability of offload modules to determine the packet offset, leading to improper load balancing and processor overload.

Innovation Solution

A hardware-based offload system with a header parser and access module that compares the tunnel header to a data structure to determine the packet offset, allowing for pre-processing and proper distribution of tunneled packets among processors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a hardware based offload module is used to process network packets, then processing speed and productivity are improved, but the module cannot determine packet offset in tunneled packets causing improper load balancing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket processing speedVSAvoidpacket offset determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A data structure acts as an intermediary between the tunneled packet and the offload module. The data structure stores pre-configured tunnel header patterns and their corresponding offset values, allowing the offload module to quickly determine packet offsets without complex real-time analysis, thus maintaining high processing speed while improving offset determination accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Offset values for different tunnel header types are pre-calculated and stored in the data structure before packet processing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex runtime offset calculations, enabling the hardware offload module to quickly retrieve the correct offset value based on matched tunnel header patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If tunneled packets are processed without accurate offset determination, then processing simplicity is maintained, but processor overload occurs due to improper load balancing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidload balancing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The data structure enables the offload module to self-determine packet offsets by matching tunnel headers against stored patterns. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external intervention or complex processing logic, maintaining processing simplicity while ensuring accurate offset determination for proper load balancing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex software-based offset determination algorithms with a hardware-based matching mechanism using the data structure. This substitution maintains processing simplicity through hardware acceleration while improving reliability by providing deterministic and accurate offset values for load balancing decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8798047B1Methods and systems for processing network information

Publication Date: 2014.08.05 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

The present embodiments support both tunneling and offload functionality for tunneled packet having a tunnel header, the tunnel header encapsulating a packet, the packet having a packet header and a payload. When a tunneled packet is received at a network device, an offset value for the packet header is determined by comparing the tunnel header to a plurality of entries stored at a data structure maintained by the network device. The offset value is used for pre-processing the packet, and an offload module of the network device performs an offload function.