Packet Switch Arbiter Using Pseudo-Ports for Multicast Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing packet switch arbitration process is time-consuming due to the need to determine whether multiple output ports are available to receive data packets, particularly in multicast scenarios, which affects the overall performance of the packet switch.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of pseudo-ports, which are used to generate an availability signal indicating whether one or more output ports are available, allowing grant requests to be filtered and processed in parallel with the arbiter, enabling quicker selection of serviceable grant requests and reducing the time required for arbitration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the arbiter determines availability of each output port for multicast groups, then routing accuracy is improved, but arbitration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the output ports into multiple groups, with each group identified by a group identifier. The arbiter determines availability of each group rather than individually checking each output port within the group. This segmentation reduces the number of availability checks from multiple individual ports to fewer groups, thereby maintaining routing accuracy while significantly reducing arbitration time for multicast operations.
2Measurement precision
If the packet switch processes multiple grant requests sequentially, then arbitration accuracy is improved, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary determination of group availability before processing individual grant requests. The arbiter pre-determines which output port groups are available to receive data, and this availability information is stored and reused when processing multiple grant requests. This preliminary action eliminates the need to re-check availability for each grant request, thereby maintaining arbitration accuracy while significantly improving processing speed through parallel handling of multiple requests.
Data Source
AI summary
A packet switch includes an arbiter that generates an availability signal indicating whether one or more pseudo-ports are available for receiving data. Each pseudo-port identifies one or more output ports of the packet switch. An input port of the packet switch receives data of a data packet, generates a grant request identifying a pseudo-port, and issues the grant request to a grant request filter. The grant request filter determines based on the availability signal whether the grant request is serviceable by the packet switch. If the grant request is a serviceable grant request, the grant request filter issues the grant request to the arbiter. The arbiter can select the serviceable grant request and issue a grant to the input port. The data of the data packet can then be routed from the input port to each output port identified by the pseudo-port.