Method and apparatus for adaptive frame fragmentation
First Claim
1. A method of transferring data through a network by adaptively fragmenting frames of information into subframes, the method comprising:
- receiving at a first node of said network a low-priority frame;
segmenting said low-priority frame into a fragmented frame comprised of at least a first subframe and a second subframe;
receiving at said first node of said network a high-priority frame;
transmitting said high-priority frame to a second node of said network following transmission of said first subframe to said second node;
transmitting said second subframe to said second node following transmission of said high-priority frame to said second node; and
appending a first identifying field to said first subframe and a second identifying field to said second subframe, said first and second identifying fields respectively indicating the relative position of said first subframe and said second subframe within said fragmented frame.
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Abstract
A system and method of transferring data through a network by adaptively fragmenting frames of information into subframes. The method contemplates receiving a first frame and a second frame at a first node of the network. The first frame is segmented into a fragmented frame comprised of at least a first subframe and a second subframe, and the first subframe transmitted to a second node of the network. Following transmission of the first subframe to the second node, the second frame is transmitted to the second node prior to transmission of the second subframe to the second node. A first identifying field is appended to the first subframe and a second identifying field is appended to the second subframe, the first and second identifying fields respectively indicating the relative position of the first subframe and the second subframe within the fragmented frame.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of transferring data through a network by adaptively fragmenting frames of information into subframes, the method comprising:
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receiving at a first node of said network a low-priority frame;
segmenting said low-priority frame into a fragmented frame comprised of at least a first subframe and a second subframe;
receiving at said first node of said network a high-priority frame;
transmitting said high-priority frame to a second node of said network following transmission of said first subframe to said second node;
transmitting said second subframe to said second node following transmission of said high-priority frame to said second node; and
appending a first identifying field to said first subframe and a second identifying field to said second subframe, said first and second identifying fields respectively indicating the relative position of said first subframe and said second subframe within said fragmented frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 23, 24)
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6. A data transfer device comprising:
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a buffer coupled to an input of said data transfer device, wherein said buffer is operable to receive a low-priority frame and high-priority frame;
an adaptive fragmentation unit operative to (i) segment said low-priority frame into a fragmented frame comprised of at least a first subframe and a second subframe, (ii) append a first identifying field to said first subframe and a second identifying field to said second subframe, said first and second identifying fields respectively indicating the relative position of said first subframe and said second subframe within said fragmented frame, (iii) transmit said high-priority frame subsequent to transmitting said first subframe, and (iv) transmit said second sub frame subsequent to transmission of said high-priority frame. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 25, 26)
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10. A method of transferring data through a network by adaptively fragmenting frames of information into subframes, the method comprising:
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accepting a first low-priority frame into a first input queue;
beginning transmission of said first low-priority frame from said first input queue;
accepting a first high-priority frame at a second input queue;
suspending transmission of said first low-priority frame upon acceptance of said first high-priority frame in said second input queue;
transmitting said first high-priority frame from said second input queue; and
continuing transmission of said first low-priority frame from said first input queue upon completion of transmission of said first high-priority frame from said second input queue. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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16. A data transfer device comprising:
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a first input queue and a second input queue, wherein said first input queue is operable to accept a low-priority frame and said second input queue is operable to accept a high-priority frame;
an adaptive fragmentation unit operative to (i) suspend transmission of said low-priority frame upon acceptance of said high-priority frame in said second input queue;
(ii) transmit said high-priority frame from said second input queue; and
(iii) continue transmission of said low-priority frame from said first input queue upon completion of transmission of said high-priority frame from said second input queue.
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19. A method for transferring data through a network having at least a plurality of subscriber nodes operatively connected to a network node, the method comprising:
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accepting a first low-priority frame at a first subscriber node and initiating transmission of said first low-priority frame to said network node;
accepting a first high-priority frame at said first subscriber node;
suspending transmission of said first low-priority frame upon acceptance of said first high-priority frame at said first subscriber node;
transmitting said first high-priority frame from said first subscriber node to said network node;
accepting a second low-priority frame at said network node and initiating transmission of second low-priority frame to said first subscriber node;
accepting a second high-priority frame at said network node;
suspending transmission of said second low-priority frame upon acceptance of said second high-priority frame at said network node; and
transmitting said second high-priority frame from said network node to said first subscriber node.
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33. A concentrator device interposed between a communication network and a plurality of digital subscriber lines, said concentrator device comprising:
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a plurality of subscriber line interfaces operatively connected to said plurality of digital subscriber lines;
a network interface operatively connected to said communication network, said network interface receiving low-priority frames and high-priority frames from said communication network; and
a frame processing module operatively coupled to said plurality of subscriber line interfaces and to said network interface, said frame processing module including a fragmentation unit for fragmenting ones of said low-priority frames in response to receipt from said network interface of one or more of said high-priority frames. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 37)
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36. A method for transferring data through a network node operatively connected to a communications network and to a plurality of subscriber nodes, the method comprising:
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receiving at said network node a first portion of a first low-priority frame transmitted by a first subscriber node;
receiving at said network node a first high-priority frame transmitted by said first subscriber node upon suspension of transmission of said first low-priority frame;
accepting, at said network node, a second low-priority frame provided by said communications network;
initiating transmission of said second low-priority frame from said network node to said first subscriber node;
accepting, at said network node, a second high-priority frame received from said communications network;
suspending transmission of said second low-priority frame upon acceptance of said second high-priority frame at said network node; and
transmitting said second high-priority frame from said network node to said first subscriber node.
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Specification