Smart NIC Network Slice Identification for 5G Packet Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G systems, existing communication technologies face challenges in managing packet priority across multiple network slices, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and increased costs due to the inability of smart NICs to recognize the network slice of packets received from the CPU, resulting in incorrect priority handling.
Innovation Solution
A communication control device with a reception unit, identification unit, distribution unit, data transfer units, and transmission unit that identifies the network slice of incoming packets and prioritizes them based on their associated slice priority levels, ensuring accurate packet transfer according to Quality of Service (QoS) requirements across multiple network slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If packets are received and transmitted without identifying network slice information, then processing speed is improved, but packet priority handling accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the CPU add network slice identification information to packets before transferring them to the smart NIC. This pre-preparation of identification data allows the smart NIC to quickly prioritize and handle packets without performing complex identification operations during transmission, thus maintaining high processing speed while ensuring accurate network slice recognition.
2Productivity
If multiple network slices are accommodated in one UPF, then resource utilization is improved, but management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the management of multiple network slices into distinct, organized groups within the single UPF. Each network slice is maintained as a separate logical entity with its own identification markers and priority levels, allowing the system to efficiently manage multiple slices through structured organization rather than monolithic handling, thus reducing management complexity while improving resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of standardized packet metadata that carries network slice identification information. This intermediary data structure acts as a bridge between the CPU and smart NIC, enabling coordinated management of multiple network slices without requiring complex inter-component communication protocols, thereby simplifying overall system management.
3Productivity
If bulk processing is used for eMBB, then throughput is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing adaptive packet processing that can adjust between bulk processing and individual packet handling based on network slice requirements. For eMBB traffic, bulk processing is used to maximize throughput, while for URLLC traffic, individual packet processing with priority queving is employed to minimize latency. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize performance characteristics according to specific traffic demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments packet processing into different queues based on network slice requirements and QoS parameters. By dividing the processing stream into multiple priority levels and traffic types, the system can apply bulk processing to appropriate packet groups while maintaining low latency for time-sensitive traffic, thus resolving the throughput-latency tradeoff through structured segmentation.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication control device includes: a reception unit that receives a packet; an identification unit that identifies a network slice to which the packet belongs and a class of the packet in a QoS; a distribution unit that, according to an identification result of the packet, distributes the packet to any of queues of a queue grouping; a plurality of data transfer units that perform packet transfer processing according to the QoS in the associated network slice; and a transmission unit that transmits, through a physical port, the packet received from the data transfer unit. Each of the plurality of data transfer units acquires a packet from a queue group associated with the network slice associated with the data transfer unit, and the transmission unit transmits, with higher priority, the packet received from the data transfer unit associated with the network slice having a higher slice priority level.