Parser Engine Field Selection Circuit for Large Protocol Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hardware implementations for parsing network packets are inflexible and resource inefficient due to the fixed maximum length of protocol layers, leading to increased hardware costs as the size of each layer increases, necessitating a more flexible solution for handling large protocol layers.
Innovation Solution
A method that optimizes the field selection circuit by splitting any layer exceeding a predetermined size into smaller layers, allowing for software-defined layer sizes and using generic commands to extract data from these split layers, which are then concatenated for further processing, providing software-like flexibility to the parser engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the maximum layer length is increased to handle larger protocol layers, then the parser engine can process larger layers, but the field selection circuit size increases proportionally, leading to increased hardware costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large protocol layer into multiple smaller sub-layers, each within the maximum length limit. This segmentation allows the parser to handle large layers without requiring a field selection circuit sized for the entire large layer, thus reducing hardware complexity while maintaining adaptability to process layers of any size
Solution Approach 2:
A parser engine is provided that includes a field selection circuit. The parser engine is configured to receive a packet including multiple protocol layers. The parser engine identifies a layer type for each layer in the packet and determines a length for each layer. The parser engine then determines whether the length of a layer exceeds a maximum layer length supported by the field selection circuit. If the layer length exceeds the maximum layer length, the parser engine sub-layers the layer into multiple sub-layers, each within the maximum length limit. The parser engine then parses the sub-layers to extract desired information. This approach allows handling of arbitrarily large protocol layers while keeping the field selection circuit size manageable, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
2Device complexity
If traditional hardware implementations are used with fixed maximum layer length, then hardware costs are controlled, but the parser engine lacks flexibility to handle varying layer sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sub-layering that adapts to the actual size of each protocol layer. The field selection circuit maintains a fixed maximum length, but the system dynamically determines whether to sub-layer based on comparing actual layer length against this maximum, and dynamically creates the appropriate number of sub-layers. This provides software-like flexibility while keeping hardware costs controlled
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of layer representation from fixed-size to variable-size through sub-layering. By transforming a single large layer parameter into multiple smaller layer parameters, the system achieves flexibility in handling varying layer sizes without requiring the hardware to be sized for the maximum possible layer, thus controlling hardware costs while improving adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the apparatus for handling large protocol layers relate to an implementation that optimizes a field selection circuit. This implementation provides software like flexibility to a hardware parser engine in parsing packets. The implementation limits a size of each layer and splits any layer that exceeds that size into smaller layers. The parser engine extracts data from the split layers just as it would from a non-split layer and, then, concatenates the extracted data in a final result.