Switch Buffer Congestion-Aware Route Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer fabric routing systems face inefficiencies in selecting optimal routes for data packets due to reliance on single metrics like hop count and external congestion, which do not adequately balance buffer occupancy, leading to suboptimal packet transmission and potential congestion imbalances.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a switch with dynamic routing and buffer congestion-aware mechanisms, where ingress ports assign weights based on buffer occupancy, route characteristics, and egress congestion to select the most balanced route, using a combination of buffer congestion weights, route weights, and egress congestion weights to determine the optimal egress port for packet transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If routing selection is based on hop count, then packet transmission speed is improved, but buffer congestion balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the routing selection parameters from solely hop count to a composite metric including buffer occupancy levels. The arbitration mechanism dynamically adjusts route selection by incorporating buffer congestion weights, allowing the system to balance transmission speed with buffer load distribution across the fabric.
2Ease of operation
If routing selection is based on egress congestion, then buffer occupancy balance is improved, but packet transmission speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the routing decision parameters to include both egress congestion metrics and hop count information. By combining these parameters into a weighted arbitration metric, the system achieves buffer occupancy balance while maintaining awareness of transmission distance, thus preventing excessive speed deterioration.
3Device complexity
If single metric routing is used, then routing complexity is reduced, but route selection optimality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple routing metrics (hop count, buffer occupancy, egress congestion) into a composite arbitration metric. This composite approach allows the system to evaluate multiple factors simultaneously, achieving optimal route selection that balances various competing objectives without requiring complex individual mechanisms for each metric.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch includes a plurality of ingress ports, a plurality of egress ports, and a plurality of buffers comprising a buffer coupled to each ingress port, egress port pair. An ingress port is to determine a plurality of potential egress ports for a packet. The ingress port is to select an egress port of the plurality of potential egress ports based on congestion of the corresponding buffers coupled to the ingress port and to each of the plurality of potential egress ports. The ingress port is to place the packet into the corresponding buffer coupled to the ingress port and the selected egress port.