Network switch including bandwidth controller

• US 6,661,803 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Choi, Kam, Hay, Christopher, Gibson, Patrick, Allwright, Gareth E
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VAN KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/475,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229-236, 370/412, 370/428, 370/429, 370/413-419, 370/395--39, 710/29, 710/54
• US Class Current: 370/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5602 Bandwidth control in ATM Networks, e.g. leaky bucket
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5651 Priority, marking, classes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5681 Buffer or queue management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames

Abstract

A network switch includes a plurality of receive ports for receiving addressed data packets and a plurality of transmit ports for forwarding the addressed data packets and is responsive to data in the packets for directing received packets to the transmit ports. The switch includes, with respect to at least one transmit port, a bandwidth controller for at least one selected packet type. The bandwidth controller diminishes an aggregate count in response to the sizes of packets of the one type destined for the transmit port and continually augments the aggregate count at a selectable rate. The switch compares the aggregate count with a threshold and initiates a discard of packets of the one type before they can be forwarded from the transmit port so as to limit the proportion of available bandwidth occupied by packet so of the one type with respect to the transmit port.

Claims

1. A network switch comprising a plurality of receive ports for receiving addressed data packets and a plurality of transmit ports for forwarding the addressed data packets and means responsive to data in said packets for directing received packets to said transmit ports, said switch including in respect of at least one of said transmit ports:

a respective bandwidth controller for at least one selected packet type, said bandwidth controller including;

means for altering an aggregate count in a first sense in response to the sizes of packets of said one type destined for said one transmit port;

means for continually altering said aggregate count in a second sense opposite said first at a selectable rate;

means for making a comparison of said aggregate count with a threshold; and

means responsive to said comparison for initiating discard of packets of said one type before they can be forwarded from said one transmit port such as to limit the proportion of available bandwidth occupied by packets of said one type in respect of said one transmit port.

2. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said means for altering comprises means for diminishing said aggregate count and said means for continually altering comprises means for augmenting said aggregate count.

3. A switch according to claim 1 wherein said means for continually altering said aggregate count comprises a counter, means for providing clock pulses and means for controlling the counter to count a selectable proportion of said clock pulses.

4. A switch according to claim 1 and further comprising means for limiting said aggregate count.

5. A network switch comprising a plurality of receive ports for receiving addressed data packets and a plurality of transmit ports for forwarding the addressed data packets and means responsive to data in said packets for directing received packets to said transmit ports, said switch including, in respect of at least one of said transmit ports:

a plurality of bandwidth controllers each for a respective selected packet type, each bandwidth controller including

means for diminishing an aggregate count in a first sense in response to the sizes of packets of said respective type destined for said one transmit port;

means for continually augmenting said aggregate count in a second sense opposite said first at a selectable rate;

means for making a comparison of said aggregate count with a threshold; and

means responsive to said comparison for initiating discard of packets of said respective type before they can be forwarded from said one transmit port such as to limit the proportion of available bandwidth occupied by packets of said one type in respect of said one transmit port.

6. A switch according to claim 5 wherein said means for continually augmenting said aggregate count comprises a counter, means for providing clock pulses and means for controlling the counter to count a selectable proportion of said clock pulses.

7. A switch according to claim 6 and further comprising means for limiting said aggregate count.