Packet Admission Control for Ethernet Traffic Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network traffic management systems face challenges in efficiently prioritizing traffic flow across networks, particularly in unscheduled and lightly buffered Ethernet queueing fabrics, which can lead to bandwidth inefficiencies and increased buffer consumption due to the lack of consideration for local and global traffic conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a processing resource and a controller to determine traffic communication rates at ingress and egress points, calculate a target packet admission rate, and communicate this rate to ingresses, allowing for informed decisions on packet admission based on both local and global network conditions, thereby optimizing traffic flow and reducing bandwidth consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional Ethernet queueing fabrics are used without considering local and global traffic conditions, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates and buffer consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where egress ports report traffic conditions and queue lengths back to ingress ports. This enables dynamic adjustment of packet admission decisions based on real-time network state, improving bandwidth efficiency without requiring complex centralized control. The feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing traffic patterns while maintaining relatively simple fabric architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having ingress ports make packet admission decisions before packets enter the queueing fabric. By calculating target packet admission rates in advance based on egress port conditions and local traffic state, the system prevents buffer overflow and congestion before they occur, reducing the need for complex real-time arbitration in the fabric.
2Device complexity
If traditional Ethernet queueing fabrics are used without considering local and global traffic conditions, then device complexity is reduced, but buffer consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Egress ports provide feedback about their buffer occupancy and traffic conditions to ingress ports. This enables ingress ports to make informed admission decisions that prevent buffer overflow at egress ports, reducing the amount of buffer memory needed in the fabric while maintaining simple queueing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By making packet admission decisions in advance at ingress ports based on egress port conditions, the system prevents packets from entering buffers that would eventually overflow. This preliminary control reduces buffer consumption without requiring complex buffer management in the fabric.
3Productivity
If high-granularity traffic prioritization is implemented, then network performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each ingress port to independently manage its own packet admission decisions based on local traffic conditions and egress port feedback. This distributed approach enables high-granularity traffic prioritization without requiring complex centralized control logic, as each port adapts its behavior to local conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Ingress ports perform self-service by autonomously calculating target packet admission rates and making admission decisions based on egress port feedback and local traffic state. This self-managing capability enables sophisticated traffic prioritization without increasing overall device complexity, as each port handles its own traffic management independently.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example of a system may include a processing resource and a controller including a memory resource storing instructions executable by the processing resource to determine a rate of traffic communication at each of a plurality of ingresses participating in a communication of a packet flow context, determine a rate of traffic communication at each of a plurality of egresses participating in the communication of the packet flow context, determine a target packet admission rate applicable to each of the plurality of ingresses from the rate of traffic communication at each of the plurality of ingresses and the rate of traffic communication at each of the plurality of egresses, and communicate the target packet admission rate to an ingress of the plurality of ingresses.