Packet Size-Based Load Balancing for Low-Jitter Multipath Routing

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-classifying packets into size groups before routing decisions are made. This classification happens in advance, allowing the round-robin arbiter to distribute different sized packets across multiple paths proactively rather than reactively. By preparing packet groups beforehand and using a predetermined round-robin sequence, the system avoids queue formation and latency jitter while maintaining even load distribution across paths.

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the packet stream into size-based groups and distributing these groups across multiple paths using separate round-robin arbiters for each path. This segmentation allows simple per-path routing logic while achieving overall load balancing. Each path receives a segmented portion of the traffic based on packet size categories, preventing congestion on any single path while maintaining straightforward routing decisions at each path endpoint.

The patent applies local quality by creating different treatment categories for different packet sizes. Instead of applying a uniform round-robin approach to all packets, the system classifies packets into size groups (e.g., small, medium, large) and applies dedicated round-robin arbiters to each group. This localized quality adjustment ensures that packets of similar sizes are distributed together, preventing scenarios where large packets bottleneck certain paths while small packets use other paths, thereby reducing latency jitter while maintaining implementation simplicity through standardized arbitration logic for each group.