Packet extraction optimization in a network processor
First Claim
1. A method of processing a packet comprising:
- receiving a first segment of a packet;
determining, based on the first segment, beats of a second segment of the packet containing portions of a key;
determining a start time at which the key may begin to be forwarded as a continuous stream, the start time being based on a prediction of when the portions of the key in the second segment will be received; and
initiating forwarding the key at the start time to a processing cluster configured to operate rule matching for the packet; and
completing forwarding the key at an end time occurring after receipt of all of the portions of the key in the second segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packet processor provides for rule matching of packets in a network architecture. The packet processor includes a lookup cluster complex having a number of lookup engines and respective on-chip memory units. The on-chip memory stores rules for matching against packet data. A lookup front-end receives lookup requests from a host, and processes these lookup requests to generate key requests for forwarding to the lookup engines. Based on information in the packet, the lookup front-end can optimize start times for sending key requests as a continuous stream with minimal delay. As a result of the rule matching, the lookup engine returns a response message indicating whether a match is found.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of processing a packet comprising:
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receiving a first segment of a packet; determining, based on the first segment, beats of a second segment of the packet containing portions of a key; determining a start time at which the key may begin to be forwarded as a continuous stream, the start time being based on a prediction of when the portions of the key in the second segment will be received; and initiating forwarding the key at the start time to a processing cluster configured to operate rule matching for the packet; and completing forwarding the key at an end time occurring after receipt of all of the portions of the key in the second segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for processing a packet comprising:
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a register configured to receive a first segment of a packet of a packet; a packet header extractor (PHE) configured to; determine, based on the first segment, the beats of a second segment of the packet containing portions of a key, and determine a start time at which the key may begin to be forwarded as a continuous stream, the start time being based on a prediction of when all of the portions of the key in the second segment will be received; and a scheduler output manager configured to initiate forwarding the key at the start time to a processing cluster configured to operate rule matching for the packet, the scheduler output manager being further configured to complete forwarding the key at an end time occurring after receipt of all of the portions of the key in the second segment. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification