Stream Routing Unit for Data Stream Merging and Order Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network technologies are limited in efficiently routing multiple data streams to various destinations while maintaining maximum bandwidth and ensuring packets are delivered in the correct order without breaking streams at the byte level.
Innovation Solution
A stream routing unit with input and output ports, storage for packet streams, and data structures like the packet allocation table and source-to-destination matrix, which allows for merging and routing of multiple input streams to multiple destinations by identifying source and destination information and controlling packet output to maintain bandwidth and order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple data streams are routed through a network using conventional multi-layer network elements, then connectivity to various devices is provided, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates and packet delivery order cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network routing function into distinct components: a stream routing unit that handles stream-level routing decisions and multiple packet buffers that handle individual packet storage and forwarding. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stream ordering guarantees while efficiently utilizing bandwidth through dedicated buffering paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary stream routing unit that sits between the network input and output, mediating the routing of packet streams. This intermediary maintains the correct delivery order by buffering packets from the same stream together and forwarding them sequentially, while allowing multiple streams to be efficiently routed in parallel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packets are buffered and routed through multiple network elements, then routing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stream routing unit is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple input streams and route them to multiple output destinations simultaneously. The same routing logic and buffering mechanism serve all streams, providing routing flexibility without requiring separate complex elements for each stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the routing function and buffering function into a single integrated stream routing unit. Instead of having separate routing elements and buffering elements, the system combines these functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining routing flexibility through unified control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data streams are merged and routed to multiple destinations, then network versatility is improved, but ensuring packets are delivered in correct order becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing packets into stream-specific buffers before forwarding. When a packet arrives, the system immediately identifies its stream and places it in the appropriate buffer, ensuring that packets from the same stream are grouped together and will be forwarded in the correct order, even as multiple streams are merged and routed to multiple destinations.
Data Source
AI summary
The routing of data streams is discussed, and particularly routing one or more incoming streams to one or more output destination ports. The ability to merge incoming streams is discussed so that several low bit rate input packet streams can be merged into a higher bit rate output stream. An assignment data structure identifies for each input stream the or each destination to which it is to be routed, and a packet allocation data structure holds information about the packets and information about the destination of the packets to allow a memory holding the packets to be controlled accordingly.