Packet Switch Transport Module Format Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packet switches face inefficiencies in modifying packets with different transport identifiers, leading to slow processing, high resource consumption, and bandwidth issues, especially when handling multicast or broadcast packets, due to the need for large lookup tables and unnecessary bandwidth usage in the switching fabric.
Innovation Solution
A packet switch with a transport module that translates packets between switching and transport formats by assigning packets to virtual switches based on ingress ports and transport identifiers, allowing for the modification of transport identifiers within the switching fabric, reducing resource usage and bandwidth consumption by removing or adding identifiers as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a packet switch modifies packets by selecting and adding transport identifiers at the ingress port using large lookup tables, then packet switching functionality is achieved, but processing speed decreases and system resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the switching fabric with transport identifiers associated with egress ports before packet processing occurs. The switching fabric is set up in advance with the necessary identifier mappings, eliminating the need for real-time lookup table queries during packet processing, thereby improving processing speed while reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the switching fabric as an intermediary component that handles transport identifier assignment. Instead of having the ingress port directly query large lookup tables, the switching fabric acts as a mediator that provides pre-computed identifier mappings, decoupling the packet processing function from complex lookup operations and enabling faster processing
2Reliability
If a packet switch adds lengthy transport identifiers to packets at the ingress port, then proper packet routing is enabled, but switching fabric bandwidth is unnecessarily consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining and configuring the appropriate transport identifiers in the switching fabric before packet processing. This eliminates the need to add lengthy identifiers at the ingress port, as the switching fabric already has the necessary identifier mappings ready, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining reliable packet routing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the transport identifier assignment function from the ingress port processing and relocates it to the switching fabric. By taking out the identifier addition operation from the packet path and pre-configuring it in the switching fabric, the patent eliminates unnecessary bandwidth consumption while preserving routing accuracy
3Productivity
If conventional packet switches relay multicast and broadcast packets through ingress port modification, then packet forwarding is achieved, but resource consumption and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the switching fabric with transport identifiers for multiple egress ports before multicast packet processing. This allows multicast packets to be forwarded efficiently without real-time identifier selection, significantly reducing processing time and improving forwarding efficiency for multicast traffic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the switching fabric as an intermediary that handles multicast packet processing with pre-configured identifier mappings. This mediator approach enables efficient multicast forwarding by leveraging the pre-established identifier associations in the switching fabric, avoiding the resource-intensive lookup operations required by conventional ingress-based methods
Data Source
AI summary
This invention includes methods and packet switches that translate a packet between a switching format and a transport format. One packet switch receives a packet intended for a destination port of a packet switch from a switching fabric of the packet switch and determines, based on the destination port, a treatment to be applied to the packet. The packet switch then applies the treatment to the packet prior to forwarding the packet to the destination port. The treatment may include adding a transport identifier to the packet.