Method and apparatus for performing high-speed traffic shaping
First Claim
1. A traffic shaper for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
- a system time generator to generate a system time;
an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to compute a transmission start time for a network message in response to the system time;
a retrieve time generator to increment a retrieve time at a rate faster than the system time;
a queue to store the network message and the transmission start time; and
a forwarding trigger to transmit the network message stored in the queue when the retrieve time matches the transmission start time of the message.
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Abstract
A network traffic shaper for shapping transmission of network messages includes a system time generator for generating a system time, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) for computing a transmission start time for each network message in response to the system time, and a retrieve time generator adapted to increment a retrieve time at a rate faster than the system time. As network messages are received, they are stored in a queue along with an associated transmission start time for each message. A forwarding trigger transmits a store network messages when its associated transmission start time matches the retrieve time. Alternately, a second transmission start time representing an excess bandwidth transmission start time may be computed for each network message. If excess bandwidth is detected, a message may be transmitted when its second transmission start time matches the retrieve time.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A traffic shaper for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
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a system time generator to generate a system time; an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to compute a transmission start time for a network message in response to the system time; a retrieve time generator to increment a retrieve time at a rate faster than the system time; a queue to store the network message and the transmission start time; and a forwarding trigger to transmit the network message stored in the queue when the retrieve time matches the transmission start time of the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A traffic shaper for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
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a retrieve time generator to generate retrieve time; a system generator to generate a system time, wherein the retrieve time is incremented at a faster rate than the system time; an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) to compute a first and a second transmission start times for a network message in response to the system time, the first transmission start time representing a guaranteed transmission start time for the network message, the second transmission start time representing an excess bandwidth transmission start time; a message/traffic flow controller interconnected to the ALU to inform the ALU when excess bandwidth exists for sending network messages; and a forwarding trigger to transmit the network message stored in the queue when either the retrieve time matches the first transmission start time, or the retrieve time matches the second transmission start time and excess bandwidth exists.
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10. A method for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
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generating a clock signal; generating a system time, the system time responsive to the clock signal; computing a first transmission start time for a network message in response to the system time; generating a retrieve time responsive to the clock signal, the retrieve time incremented at a rate faster than the system time; storing a network message in a queue; and transmitting the network message stored in the queue when the retrieve time matches the first transmission start time of the message. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
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generating a retrieve time; generating a system time, wherein the retrieve time is incremented at a faster rate than the system time; computing a first and a second transmission start time for a network message in response to the system time, the first transmission start time representing a guaranteed transmission start time for the network message, the second transmission start time representing an excess bandwidth transmission start time; determining when excess bandwidth exists for sending network messages; and transmitting the network message stored in the queue when the retrieve time matches either the first transmission start time of the message or the retrieve time matches the second transmission start time of the message and excess bandwidth is detected.
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19. A traffic shaper for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
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means for generating a clock signal; means for generating a system time, the system time responsive to the clock signal; means for computing a first transmission start times for a network message in response to the system time; means for generating a retrieve time responsive to the clock signal, the retrieve time incremented at a faster rate than the system time; means for storing a network message; and means for transmitting the network message stored when the retrieve time matches the first transmission start time of the message.
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20. A traffic shaper for shaping transmission of network messages, comprising:
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means for generating a retrieve time; means for generating a system time, wherein the retrieve time is incremented at a faster rate than the system time; means for computing a first and a second transmission start time for a network message in response to the system time, the first transmission start time representing a guaranteed transmission start time for the network message, the second transmission start time representing an excess bandwidth transmission start time; means for determining when excess bandwidth exists for sending network messages; and means for transmitting the network message stored in the queue when the retrieve time matches either the first transmission start time of the message or the retrieve time matches the second transmission start time of the message and excess bandwidth is detected.
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Specification