Programmable Router Parser Tracing for Low-Overhead Debugging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Programmable routers lack effective debugging mechanisms for their parsers, which complicates the debugging of complex parsing operations and undermines application-level support functions.

Innovation Solution

Implement a parser debugger that initializes a tracing structure to record debugging information, adds the parser's current state, and determines its next state, enabling tracing and debugging of packet processing pipelines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a parser debugger with tracing structure is implemented in the packet processing pipeline, then debugging capability and diagnostic support are improved, but device complexity and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebugging capabilityVSAvoidparser complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The debugging function is segmented from the main parser logic into a separate tracing structure. The parser debugger operates as an independent module that captures and records parser states without modifying the core parsing algorithm, allowing debugging capabilities to be added without increasing the complexity of the parser itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A tracing structure acts as an intermediary between the parser and the debugging interface. This intermediate layer captures parser states and transitions without interfering with the parser's normal operation, providing diagnostic information while maintaining the parser's original complexity and performance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If comprehensive tracing of parser states is implemented, then diagnostic information completeness is improved, but memory overhead and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic information completenessVSAvoidcomputational overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tracing structure records only the essential parser states and transitions needed for debugging, rather than capturing every possible detail. This selective tracing provides sufficient diagnostic information to identify and resolve parser issues while minimizing the computational overhead and memory usage associated with comprehensive tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If debugging mechanisms are added to the packet processing pipeline, then problem-solving capability is improved, but packet processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproblem-solving capabilityVSAvoidpacket processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tracing structure is activated periodically or conditionally based on debugging needs rather than continuously for all packets. This allows the parser to operate at full speed during normal operation while enabling diagnostic tracing when debugging is required, thus maintaining high packet processing speed while providing problem-solving capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12425339B2Method for debugging the parser in programmable routers

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method is implemented by a programmable network device, where the method is to enable debugging of a parser in a packet processing pipeline of the programmable network device. The method includes receiving a packet for processing in the packet processing pipeline, initializing a tracing structure to record debugging information for the parser, adding a current state of the parser to the tracing structure, and determining a next state of the parser.