System and method for queuing work within a virtualized scheduler based on in-unit accounting of in-unit entries

A method comprising:

• moving a work-queue entry (WQE) from a per-group transitory admission queue (TAQ) into a per-group in-unit admission queue (IAQ) in an in-unit entry (IUE) resource to be queued for scheduling by a work scheduler, the per-group TAQ and per-group IAQ assigned to the scheduling group, the moving including:
• retrieving an in-unit accounting (IUA) count and IUA threshold from an IUA resource based on an IUA identifier, the IUA count representing a global count of work-queue entries (WQEs) that are associated with the IUA identifier and occupy respective in-unit entries (IUEs) of a plurality of IUEs of the IUE resource, the IUA threshold set to limit the global count;
• and
• controlling, as a function of the IUA count and IUA threshold retrieved from the IUA resource based on the IUA identifier, whether the WQE from the scheduling group, assigned to the IUA identifier, is moved into the IUE resource to be queued for scheduling by the work scheduler.

A virtualized scheduler comprising:

• an in-unit accounting (IUA) resource configured to store, in association with an IUA identifier, an IUA count and IUA threshold, the IUA count representing a global count of work-queue entries (WQEs) that are associated with the IUA identifier and occupy respective in-unit entries (IUEs) of an in-unit entry (IUE) resource, the IUA threshold set to limit the global count;
• a work scheduler configured to schedule WQEs occupying respective IUEs in the IUE resource to respective workslots for processing by respective work processing entities assigned to the respective workslots;
• and
• an arbiter configured to retrieve the IUA count and IUA threshold from the IUA resource, based on the IUA identifier, and to control, as a function of the IUA count and IUA threshold retrieved, whether a work-queue entry (WQE) from a scheduling group, assigned to the IUA identifier, is moved from a per-group transitory admission queue (TAQ) into the IUE resource to be queued for scheduling by the work scheduler, the per-group TAQ assigned to the scheduling group.

A network services processor comprising:

• a plurality of processor cores;
• an in-unit accounting (IUA) resource, the IUA resource configured to store, in association with an IUA identifier, an IUA count and IUA threshold, the IUA count representing a global count of work-queue entries (WQEs) that are associated with the IUA identifier and occupy respective IUEs of an in-unit entry (IUE) resource, the IUA threshold set to limit the global count;
• a work scheduler configured to access the IUE resource;
• and
• an arbiter configured to move a work-queue entry (WQE) from a per-group transitory admission queue (TAQ) into a per-group in-unit admission queue (IAQ) in the IUE resource to be queued for scheduling by the work scheduler, the per-group TAQ and per-group IAQ assigned to the scheduling group, the arbiter further configured to retrieve the IUA count and IUA threshold from the IUA resource, based on the IUA identifier, and to control, as a function of the IUA count and IUA threshold retrieved, whether the WQE from the scheduling group, assigned to the IUA identifier, is moved into the IUE resource to be queued for scheduling by the work scheduler for processing by a processor core of the plurality of processor cores or a thread executing on the processor core.