Packet Forwarding Buffer Discard Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packet forwarding apparatuses inefficiently use data forwarding capacity by reading out packets that are to be discarded, as the discarding process occurs after packets are read from the buffer, wasting bandwidth and resources.
Innovation Solution
A packet forwarding apparatus with a timer, multiple queues, and controllers that manage packet writing and discarding based on residence time, allowing packets to be discarded without being read from the buffer, by associating write periods with address groups and calculating residence periods to identify packets for removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packets are read out from the packet buffer before discarding, then the discarding process can be performed, but data forwarding capacity is wasted reading packets that will be discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and determining which packets should be discarded based on residence time thresholds before actually reading them from the packet buffer. The controller identifies packets exceeding the threshold and marks them for discarding, then proceeds to read only the necessary packets while skipping the marked ones, thereby preventing wasteful reading operations in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the decision-making function for packet discarding from the post-read processing stage and moves it to a pre-read stage. By separating the residence time evaluation and discarding decision from the packet reading operation, the system can identify and exclude packets that would otherwise be unnecessarily read, thus extracting the harmful reading operation from the useful packet processing flow
2Ease of operation
If packets are discarded after being read from the buffer, then the discarding control can be implemented, but network bandwidth is used purposelessly for late packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of packet residence time and makes discarding decisions before packets are read from the buffer. By calculating the residence time and comparing it against the threshold in advance, the system determines which packets should be discarded and excludes them from the reading operation, thereby preventing the waste of network bandwidth that would occur if these packets were read and then discarded afterward
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful action of reading and then discarding packets into a beneficial process by inverting the sequence: instead of reading first and discarding later (which wastes bandwidth), the system determines discarding eligibility first and then selectively reads only the necessary packets. This transforms what would be a wasteful operation into an efficient bandwidth-utilizing process
Data Source
AI summary
The packet forwarding apparatus of the present invention includes a packet buffer for temporarily storing packets to be forwarded, a timer for measuring the time of every predetermined unit period, a plurality of first queues corresponding to each of a plurality of address groups that form the packet buffer, a plurality of second queues that are provided corresponding to the property of the packets, a first controller for executing the writing of the packets, and a second controller for executing the discarding of the packets. According to this invention, through managing the first queues and the second queues, packets in the packet buffer can be discarded without the packets being read from the packet buffer.