Packet output processing
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 and a descriptor from a command signal, the command signal identifying a packet to be transmitted by the circuit, the metapacket including an entry stating a size of the packet;
a packet scheduling engine (PSE) circuit module configured to determine an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets, the PSE determining whether to select the packet as a next packet in the order based on a time at which the metapacket is advanced from a modeled endpoint node, the time being a function of the size and a destination across a network of the packet indicated in the metapacket; and
a packet engines and buffering module (PEB) circuit module configured to perform processing operations on the packet to produce a processed packet based on instructions indicated in the descriptor, the PEB causing the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination.
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 determines an order in which to transmit the packet among a number of packets, where the PSE determines the order based on information indicated in the metapacket. 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.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A circuit for managing transmittal of packets, the circuit comprising:
-
a packet descriptor manager (PDM) circuit module configured to generate a metapacket and a descriptor from a command signal, the command signal identifying a packet to be transmitted by the circuit, the metapacket including an entry stating a size of the packet; a packet scheduling engine (PSE) circuit module configured to determine an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets, the PSE determining whether to select the packet as a next packet in the order based on a time at which the metapacket is advanced from a modeled endpoint node, the time being a function of the size and a destination across a network of the packet indicated in the metapacket; and a packet engines and buffering module (PEB) circuit module configured to perform processing operations on the packet to produce a processed packet based on instructions indicated in the descriptor, the PEB causing the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method of managing transmittal of packets, the method comprising:
-
receiving, at a circuit for managing transmittal of packets, a command signal identifying a packet to be processed and transmitted; generating, at the circuit, a metapacket from the command signal, the metapacket including an entry stating a size of the packet and instructions for ordering the packet; generating, at the circuit, a descriptor from the command signal, the descriptor including
1) pointers indicating addresses of a memory storing the packet and
2) instructions for processing the packet;determining, at the circuit, whether to select the packet as a next packet in an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets based on a time at which the metapacket is advanced from a modeled endpoint node, the time being a function of the size and a destination across a network of the packet indicated in the metapacket; processing, at the circuit, operations on the packet to produce a processed packet based on instructions indicated in the descriptor; and causing, at the circuit, the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination.
-
Specification