Network Switch Port Map Bits Eliminate Redundant Packet Transmissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-speed networks, redundant packet transmissions occur when devices are connected through multiple ports, reducing the efficiency gains from multicast and broadcast messages due to the internal bus speeds of network devices no longer outpacing the network speeds, thus limiting network performance.
Innovation Solution
A network communication device with a shared bus system that uses port map bits to efficiently route packets by allowing only the relevant ports to forward information, ensuring packets are transmitted only once and distributed correctly to multiple destinations if necessary, utilizing a time-division multiplexing scheme to manage bus access and allocate bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multicast or broadcast messages are transmitted to reach all devices in a network address space, then network coverage and reachability are improved, but redundant transmissions occur when devices are coupled through multiple ports, reducing network efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network address space into multiple sub-networks, each associated with specific ports. By dividing the broadcast domain into smaller segments, the system can target transmissions to specific sub-networks rather than flooding the entire network, thereby eliminating redundant transmissions while maintaining comprehensive coverage across all sub-networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different port map bit configurations to different ports based on their specific network topology and sub-network associations. Each port has customized forwarding behavior tailored to its local network segment, allowing efficient targeted transmissions without requiring all ports to forward all messages, thus improving overall network efficiency while maintaining full coverage.
2Reliability
If packets are transmitted through multiple ports to reach devices coupled through more than one device port, then complete delivery is ensured, but redundant transmissions increase bus utilization and reduce overall network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring port map bits for each port based on the network topology and device connections. Before packet transmission occurs, the system has already determined which ports should forward packets to which sub-networks. This pre-computed routing information is stored in the port map, allowing the switch to make immediate forwarding decisions without redundant transmissions, ensuring complete delivery while minimizing bus utilization overhead.
3Device complexity
If internal bus speeds of network devices are reduced to match network speeds, then cost and complexity are reduced, but network performance becomes limited by the slower bus speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the routing intelligence from the packet forwarding process and places it in the port map configuration. By separating the routing decision logic (stored in port map bits) from the actual packet transmission, the system can make ultra-fast forwarding decisions based on simple bit checks rather than complex routing calculations. This extraction allows the bus to operate at high speeds without being bottlenecked by routing complexity, maintaining high throughput while managing device complexity through pre-computed routing tables.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for efficient transmission of packets within a network communication device are described herein. Some illustrative embodiments include a network communication device that includes a plurality of ports (each port configured to communicate with one or more network devices), and a bus coupling the plurality of ports to each other (the bus providing a shared path for one or more bus transfers originated by a first port of the plurality of ports, and the one or more bus transfers including information). The bus includes a plurality of port map bits, a port map bit of said plurality of port map bits corresponding to a second port of the plurality of ports. The second port is configured to forward the information to the one or more network devices if the port map bit is asserted.