Packet scheduling in a network processor
First Claim
1. A circuit for managing transmittal of packets, the circuit comprising:
- a packet descriptor manager (PDM) circuit module configured to generate a metapacket from a command signal, the metapacket indicating a size and a destination of a packet to be transmitted by the circuit;
a packet scheduling engine (PSE) circuit module configured to model transmission of the packet through a model of a network topology from the destination to the circuit, the model of the network topology including simulated instances of a plurality of nodes in the network topology between the destination and the circuit and connections between the plurality of nodes, the modeling being based on information indicated by the metapacket, the PSE determining an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets based on the model transmission; and
a packet engines and buffering (PEB) circuit module configured to process the packet and cause the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination according to the order determined by the PSE.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit operates to manage transmittal of packets in a network packet processor. The circuit includes a packet descriptor manager (PDM), a packet scheduling engine (PSE), and a packet engines and buffering module (PEB). The PDM generates a metapacket and a descriptor from a command signal, where the command signal identifies a packet to be transmitted by the circuit. The PSE models the packet through a model of the network topology, determining an order in which to transmit the packet among a number of packets based on the modeling. Once the packet is scheduled for transmission, the PEB performs processing operations on the packet to produce a processed packet based on instructions indicated in the descriptor. The PEB then causes the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit for managing transmittal of packets, the circuit comprising:
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a packet descriptor manager (PDM) circuit module configured to generate a metapacket from a command signal, the metapacket indicating a size and a destination of a packet to be transmitted by the circuit; a packet scheduling engine (PSE) circuit module configured to model transmission of the packet through a model of a network topology from the destination to the circuit, the model of the network topology including simulated instances of a plurality of nodes in the network topology between the destination and the circuit and connections between the plurality of nodes, the modeling being based on information indicated by the metapacket, the PSE determining an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets based on the model transmission; and a packet engines and buffering (PEB) circuit module configured to process the packet and cause the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination according to the order determined by the PSE. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing transmittal of packets, the method comprising:
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receiving a command signal identifying a packet to be processed and transmitted; generating a metapacket from the command signal, the metapacket including an indication of a size of the packet and a destination of the packet; modeling, at a packet scheduling engine (PSE) circuit module, transmission of the packet through a model of a network topology from the destination to the circuit, the model of the network topology including simulated instances of a plurality of nodes in the network topology between the destination and the circuit and connections between the plurality of nodes, the modeling being based on information indicated by the metapacket; determining an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets based on the model transmission; processing operations on the packet to produce a processed packet; and causing the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination according to the order. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification