Multicast to unicast conversion technique
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- enqueuing a multicast packet of a multicast packet stream into a backpressure-controlled multicast queue;
converting the multicast packet into a plurality of unicast packets for transmission to stations of a plurality of stations;
enqueuing the plurality of unicast packets into a plurality of TID queues;
identifying a TID queue of the plurality of TID queues having a greatest token weight in a token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue of a plurality of token buckets uniquely associated with and corresponding to each TID queue of the plurality of TID queues;
dequeuing one or more unicast packets from the TID queue for transmission to one or more clients;
deducting from a token weight of the token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue an estimated amount based on an estimated packet transmission cost associated with transmitting the one or more unicast packets dequeued from the TID queue to the one or more clients.
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Abstract
A technique allows stations to utilize an equal share of resources (e.g., airtime or throughput). This prevents slow stations from consuming too many resources (e.g., using up too much air time). Fairness is ensured by selective dropping after a multicast packet is converted to unicast. This prevents slow stations from using more than their share of buffer resources. Multicast conversion aware back-pressure into the network layer can be used to prevent unnecessary dropping of packets after multicast to unicast (1:n) conversion by considering duplicated transmit buffers. This technique helps achieve airtime/resource fairness among stations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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enqueuing a multicast packet of a multicast packet stream into a backpressure-controlled multicast queue; converting the multicast packet into a plurality of unicast packets for transmission to stations of a plurality of stations; enqueuing the plurality of unicast packets into a plurality of TID queues; identifying a TID queue of the plurality of TID queues having a greatest token weight in a token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue of a plurality of token buckets uniquely associated with and corresponding to each TID queue of the plurality of TID queues; dequeuing one or more unicast packets from the TID queue for transmission to one or more clients; deducting from a token weight of the token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue an estimated amount based on an estimated packet transmission cost associated with transmitting the one or more unicast packets dequeued from the TID queue to the one or more clients. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a queuing engine configured to enqueue a multicast packet of a multicast packet stream into a backpressure-controlled multicast queue; a multicast-to-unicast conversion engine configured to convert the multicast packet into a plurality of unicast packets for transmission to stations of a plurality of stations; a TID queuing engine configured to enqueue the plurality of unicast packets into a plurality of TID queues; a TID-to-AC scheduling engine configured to; identify a TID queue of the plurality of TID queues having a greatest token weight in a token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue of a plurality of token buckets uniquely associated with and corresponding to each TID queue of the plurality of TID queues; dequeue one or more unicast packets from the TID queue for transmission to one or more clients; a token bucket management engine configured to deduct from a token weight of the token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue an estimated amount based on an estimated packet transmission cost associated with transmitting the one or more unicast packets dequeued from the TID queue to the one or more clients. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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means for enqueuing a multicast packet of a multicast packet stream into a backpressure-controlled multicast queue; means for converting the multicast packet into a plurality of unicast packets for transmission to stations of a plurality of stations; means for enqueuing the plurality of unicast packets into a plurality of TID queues; means for identifying a TID queue of the plurality of TID queues having a greatest token weight in a token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue of a plurality of token buckets uniquely associated with and corresponding to each TID queue of the plurality of TID queues; means for dequeuing one or more unicast packets from the TID queue for transmission to one or more clients; means for deducting from a token weight of the token bucket uniquely associated with the TID queue an estimated amount based on an estimated packet transmission cost associated with transmitting the one or more unicast packets dequeued from the TID queue to the one or more clients.
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Specification