Packet processing technique for a communication network
First Claim
1. A system comprising one or more network elements and the system configured to process at least first and second packet flows of the same traffic handling class, each network element having one or more ports, the system comprising:
- a first port configured to handle first packet flow packets and a second port configured to handle second packet flow packets;
a first packet gate associated with the first port and a second packet gate associated with the second port, each packet gate being selectively switchable between an open state for packet transmission and a closed state;
at least one first interface configured to receive, from a network controller, information defining opening times for the first packet gate and the second packet gate, the opening times defining a relative transmission order among the first packet flow packets and the second packet flow packets; and
at least one first processor configured to control the first and second packet gates based on the received information to trigger transmission of the first and second packet flow packets in the relative transmission order.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to packet processing by a network element system that transfers first and second packet flows of the same traffic handling class (e.g., the Ethernet express traffic class). A method aspect performed by the network element system comprises the step of receiving, from a network controller, information defining opening times for packet gates associated with network element ports. The opening times define a relative transmission order among first packet flow packets and second packet flow packets. Upon receipt of first and second packet flow packets at the respective ports, the packet gates are controlled based on the received information to trigger transmission of the first and second packet flow packets in the predefined transmission order.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system comprising one or more network elements and the system configured to process at least first and second packet flows of the same traffic handling class, each network element having one or more ports, the system comprising:
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a first port configured to handle first packet flow packets and a second port configured to handle second packet flow packets; a first packet gate associated with the first port and a second packet gate associated with the second port, each packet gate being selectively switchable between an open state for packet transmission and a closed state; at least one first interface configured to receive, from a network controller, information defining opening times for the first packet gate and the second packet gate, the opening times defining a relative transmission order among the first packet flow packets and the second packet flow packets; and at least one first processor configured to control the first and second packet gates based on the received information to trigger transmission of the first and second packet flow packets in the relative transmission order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A network controller configured to control processing of at least first and second packet flows of the same traffic handling class by a system having a first packet gate associated with the first packet flow and a second packet gate associated with the second packet flow, the network controller comprising:
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a processor configured to determine information defining opening times for the first packet gate and the second packet gate, wherein the first packet gate is associated with a first port and the second packet gate is associated with a second port, wherein the first port handles first packet flow packets and the second port handles second packet flow packets, wherein each packet gate is selectively switchable between an open state for packet transmission and a closed state, and wherein the opening times define a relative transmission order among the first packet flow packets and the second packet flow packets; and an interface configured to send the information to the system, wherein the information is employed to program the opening times of the first packet gate and the second packet gate. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of operating a system comprising one or more network elements and the system configured to process at least first and second packet flows of the same traffic handling class, each network element having one or more ports and the system comprising a first packet gate and a second packet gate, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a network controller, information defining opening times for the first packet gate and the second packet gate, wherein the first packet gate is associated with a first port and the second packet gate is associated with a second port, wherein the first port handles first packet flow packets and the second port handles second packet flow packets, wherein each packet gate is selectively switchable between an open state for packet transmission and a closed state, and wherein the opening times define a relative transmission order among the first packet flow packets and the second packet flow packets; receiving the first packet flow packets at the first port and the second packet flow packets at the second port; and controlling the first and second packet gates based on the received information to trigger transmission of the first and second packet flow packets in the relative transmission order.
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31. A method of operating a network controller configured to control processing of at least first and second packet flows of the same traffic handling class by a system having a first packet gate associated with the first packet flow and a second packet gate associated with the second packet flow, the method comprising:
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determining information defining opening times for the first packet gate and the second packet gate, wherein the first packet gate is associated with a first port and the second packet gate is associated with a second port, wherein the first port handles first packet flow packets and the second port handles second packet flow packets, wherein each packet gate is selectively switchable between an open state for packet transmission and a closed state, and wherein the opening times define a relative transmission order among the first packet flow packets and the second packet flow packets; and sending the information to the system, wherein the information is employed to program the opening times of the first packet gate and the second packet gate.
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Specification