Multicast to unicast conversion technique
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a multicast queue configured to enqueue multicast packets for downstream destinations, wherein the multicast packets are received from an upstream source;
a plurality of traffic identifier (TID) queues configured to at least enqueue multicast-to-unicast converted packets for the downstream destinations, the downstream destinations being associated with the plurality of TID queues;
a backpressure-aware scheduling engine configured to;
identify in the plurality of TID queues a subplurality of TID queues that are associated with a multicast packet from the multicast queue;
identify in the subplurality of TID queues a first proper subset of TID queues that are full;
convert the multicast packet into a multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet for each TID queue of a second proper subset of TID queues in the subplurality of TID queues, the first proper subset and the second proper subset being disjoint;
enqueue the multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet in each TID queue of the second proper subset of TID queues;
selectively drop multicast packets with respect to the first proper subset of the subplurality of TID queues.
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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
21 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a multicast queue configured to enqueue multicast packets for downstream destinations, wherein the multicast packets are received from an upstream source; a plurality of traffic identifier (TID) queues configured to at least enqueue multicast-to-unicast converted packets for the downstream destinations, the downstream destinations being associated with the plurality of TID queues; a backpressure-aware scheduling engine configured to; identify in the plurality of TID queues a subplurality of TID queues that are associated with a multicast packet from the multicast queue; identify in the subplurality of TID queues a first proper subset of TID queues that are full; convert the multicast packet into a multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet for each TID queue of a second proper subset of TID queues in the subplurality of TID queues, the first proper subset and the second proper subset being disjoint; enqueue the multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet in each TID queue of the second proper subset of TID queues; selectively drop multicast packets with respect to the first proper subset of the subplurality of TID queues. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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identifying a subplurality of traffic identifier (TID) queues associated with a multicast packet; identifying in the subplurality of TID queues a first proper subset of TID queues that are full; converting the multicast packet into a multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet for each TID queue of a second proper subset of TID queues in the subplurality of TID queues, wherein the first proper subset and the second proper subset are disjoint; enqueuing the multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet in each TID queue of the second proper subset of TID queues; selectively dropping multicast packets with respect to the first proper subset of TID queues. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
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a means for identifying a subplurality of traffic identifier (TID) queues associated with a multicast packet; a means for identifying in the subplurality of TID queues a first proper subset of TID queues that are full; a means for converting the multicast packet into a multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet for each TID queue of a second proper subset of TID queues in the subplurality of TID queues, wherein the first proper subset and the second proper subset are disjoint; a means for enqueuing the multicast-to-unicast converted unicast packet in each TID queue of the second proper subset of TID queues; a means for selectively dropping multicast packets with respect to the first proper subset of TID queues.
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Specification