Token-Based Traffic Manager for Fair Packet Buffer Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in managing network packet storage efficiently, leading to potential starvation of certain egress ports and inefficient utilization of packet buffer space, which can result in quality of service (QoS) issues and unfair allocation of resources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a traffic manager with a token-based mechanism that allocates storage space fairly among egress ports by using threshold values and tokens to determine which packets are admitted and stored in the packet buffer, ensuring that no single port is starved of traffic and that storage space is utilized maximally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packet buffers are used to store packet data temporarily, then network traffic can be forwarded efficiently, but storage space may be wasted and certain egress ports may be starved of resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the packet buffer into multiple buffer partitions, with each partition associated with a specific egress port. This segmentation ensures that each egress port has dedicated storage space, preventing starvation while improving overall buffer utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements quality of service (QoS) parameters for each buffer partition, allowing different egress ports to have different storage priorities and thresholds. This enables fair resource allocation tailored to specific port requirements, preventing both waste and starvation.
2Ease of operation
If packet buffers are allocated to egress ports, then resource fairness can be improved, but storage space utilization may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic threshold adjustment for buffer partitions based on real-time traffic conditions and QoS parameters. When traffic demand changes, the system automatically adjusts the thresholds, allowing fair resource allocation while maximizing buffer utilization under varying loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors buffer usage and traffic patterns, using this feedback to dynamically adjust allocation thresholds. This ensures fair resource distribution while preventing unnecessary buffer space from remaining idle.
3Ease of operation
If threshold values are set for buffer partitions, then resource allocation can be controlled fairly, but complex control mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic threshold adjustment mechanisms that use pre-configured QoS parameters and real-time traffic statistics to self-regulate buffer allocation. This reduces the need for complex manual control while maintaining fair resource distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A network traffic manager receives, from an ingress port in a group of ingress ports, a cell of a packet destined for an egress port. Upon determining that a number of cells of the packet stored in a buffer queue meets a threshold value, the manager checks whether the group of ingress ports has been assigned a token for the queue. Upon determining that the group of ingress ports has been assigned the token, the manager determines that other cells of the packet are stored in the buffer, and accordingly stores the received cell in the buffer, and stores linking information for the received cell in a receive context for the packet. When all cells of the packet have been received, the manager copies linking information for the packet cells to the buffer queue or a copy generator queue, and releases the token from the group of ingress ports.