Packet Forward Control via Suppression Port Masks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packet forward control methods lead to network congestion and performance degradation due to the speed mismatch between ports, causing unnecessary pause frames and affecting sniff ports, which results in inefficient data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A system with a processing module comprising a resource management module to detect congestion and a forward control module that generates masks to selectively forward packets, excluding congested ports set as suppression ports, thereby avoiding network-wide pauses and maintaining transmission to non-congested ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional packet forward control is used to stop packet transmissions when congestion occurs on a port, then the congestion on that specific port is addressed, but the performance of the entire switch is degraded and other ports are unnecessarily affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the congestion control mechanism by introducing suppression port masks that allow selective application of pause frames to specific port groups. Instead of applying congestion control globally across all ports, the system divides ports into suppressed groups (where pause frames are sent) and non-suppressed groups (where forwarding continues), enabling localized congestion management without affecting overall switch productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different congestion control behaviors for different port groups through configurable suppression port masks. Each port can be individually configured as suppressed or non-suppressed, enabling tailored congestion responses based on port-specific characteristics such as speed mismatches or sniffing functions, rather than applying uniform control across all ports.
2Reliability
If pause frames are transmitted to stop packet transmissions during congestion, then packet accumulation on congested ports is prevented, but transmission to all other ports is also stopped including non-congested ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pause frame transmission mechanism by using suppression port masks to identify which port groups should receive pause frames. This segmentation ensures that only ports in the suppressed group (typically including the congested port and potentially related ports) receive pause frames to stop transmission, while ports in non-suppressed groups continue normal forwarding operations without unnecessary delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The suppression port mask acts as an intermediary between congestion detection and pause frame transmission. It mediates the congestion control process by filtering which ports receive pause frames, preventing direct and unnecessary application of pause frames to all ports. This intermediary mechanism ensures that pause frames are sent only where needed to prevent packet loss, while maintaining transmission continuity elsewhere.
3Reliability
If all ports are affected by pause frames during congestion, then congestion on specific ports is controlled, but sniff ports and other specialized ports cannot function properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring suppression port masks to exclude specialized ports such as sniff ports from receiving pause frames. This allows congestion control to be applied locally to data-forwarding ports while preserving the special functionality of sniff ports and other specialized ports that require continuous packet monitoring regardless of congestion status on other ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments ports into different functional groups through suppression port mask configuration, separating data-forwarding ports that should receive congestion control from specialized ports (sniff ports, monitoring ports) that should maintain continuous operation. This segmentation preserves port functionality diversity while still achieving effective congestion management on appropriate ports.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for packet forward control. The system comprises a plurality of ports and a processing module configured to receive a packet. The processing module comprises a resource management module and a forward control module. The resource management module detects whether congestion occurs on at least one specific port among the ports. The forward control module determines whether the specific port comprises a predetermined port within the ports, and if so, forwards the packet to at least one of the ports excepting the predetermined port.