Packet Scheduling System for Accurate Physical Transmission Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packet transmission systems lack the ability to accurately timestamp packets, especially in high-bandwidth applications like 5G networks and high-resolution video feeds, due to the inability to modify packets once they reach the physical layer, leading to potential performance degradation when trying to provide accurate transmission times for all packets.
Innovation Solution
A packet scheduling system that includes a switching device with packet processing circuitry capable of holding packets until a predetermined clock time, using a clock and master clock circuitry to ensure accurate transmission times, particularly for packets marked with a transmission time descriptor, and providing these timestamps in PTP format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packets are transmitted as soon as possible once ready, then transmission speed and productivity are improved, but accurate timestamping capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining the desired physical transmission time for each packet before the packet reaches the physical layer. The packet descriptor is populated with timing information in advance, allowing the packet to be transmitted as soon as possible while maintaining accurate timestamping capability.
2Measurement precision
If accurate transmission time is provided for all packets, then timestamp precision is improved, but system complexity and performance degradation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing accurate timestamping information in the packet descriptor for specific packets that require it, rather than uniformly for all packets. This allows the system to maintain precision where needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity for packets that do not require accurate timestamping.
3Measurement precision
If packets are delayed to achieve accurate transmission time, then timestamp accuracy is improved, but transmission time and productivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the desired physical transmission time in advance and populates the packet descriptor with this timing information. This preliminary action eliminates the need for delaying packet transmission, as the packet can be transmitted immediately at the predetermined time without sacrificing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain exemplary embodiments, a switching device is provided, including an input interface configured to communicate with a packet source, an output interface configured to communicate with a packet destination, and packet processing circuitry. The packet processing circuitry is configured to receive a plurality of packets from the packet source via the input interface, each of the plurality of packets being associated with a packet descriptor, at least one of the packet descriptors being a transmission time packet descriptor including a desired physical transmission time for the packet associated with the transmission time packet descriptor, to receive an indication of a clock time, and for each packet associated with a transmission time packet descriptor, to physically transmit the packet associated with the transmission time packet descriptor, via the output interface, at a clock time corresponding to the desired physical transmission time. Related apparatus an methods are also provided.