Packet Forwarding Queue Mapping for Boundary Jitter Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deterministic periodic scheduling technologies fail to control boundary jitter introduced by the source node, leading to inefficiencies in bandwidth utilization and end-to-end jitter in large-scale deterministic networks.

Innovation Solution

A packet forwarding method and apparatus that adjusts queue numbers based on access slot offsets at the sink node and encapsulates access slot offsets into packets at the source node, using queue group expansion and slot mapping to absorb boundary jitter and improve bandwidth utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shaping mechanism is applied at the source PE node to ensure services access according to the access slot, then jitter from the access slot to sink PE egress is controlled within 2T, but boundary jitter introduced by the source node cannot be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejitter controlVSAvoidboundary jitter control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The source node performs preliminary actions by calculating the access slot offset based on the arrival slot and access slot, and encapsulates this offset information into the packet before forwarding. This preliminary calculation and information embedding enables the sink node to subsequently adjust queue numbers to control boundary jitter, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If deterministic periodic scheduling is implemented with access slot orchestration, then packet forwarding follows a strict schedule, but arrival slots may be inconsistent with access slots requiring shaping mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling stabilityVSAvoidslot inconsistency delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter representation by introducing and transmitting the access slot offset parameter. Instead of rigidly enforcing slot consistency at the source, the offset parameter is calculated and embedded in the packet, allowing the sink node to adjust its queue number dynamically. This parameter change approach maintains scheduling stability while accommodating arrival slot inconsistencies without causing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If queue number adjustment based on access slot offset is performed at the sink node, then boundary jitter is controlled, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary jitter controlVSAvoidpacket forwarding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The access slot offset acts as an intermediary element that carries timing adjustment information from the source node to the sink node. By embedding this offset parameter in the packet, the sink node can perform automated queue number adjustments without requiring complex real-time coordination or additional processing steps, thus controlling boundary jitter while maintaining packet forwarding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4712435A1Packet forwarding method and apparatus, electronic device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP4712435A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4712435A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4712435A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and discloses a packet forwarding method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: a sink node receives a packet sent by a previous node, wherein the packet carries an upstream sending slot identifier and an admission slot offset; on the basis of an out-slot number corresponding to the upstream sending slot identifier and a currently sent queue number, determining a first queue number corresponding to the packet; adjusting the first queue number on the basis of the admission slot offset to obtain a second queue number; and caching the packet to a sending queue corresponding to the second queue number for forwarding.