Systems and methods for managing packet latency

A method for managing network traffic to reduce latency comprising:

• receiving a first data packet, the first data packet comprising a header and a payload, the header comprising a metadata, the payload comprising a plurality of cells;
• providing a first path and a second path, the first path being characterized by a first latency, the second path being characterized by a second latency, the first latency being lower than the second latency;
• determining, using at least the metadata, an eligibility of directing the first data packet to the first path or otherwise directing the first data packet to the second path;
• starting to store the first data packet from the first path into a first queue upon receiving a first cell of the payload;
• holding the cells of the payload associated with the first queue in a first buffer;
• preparing a second data packet using the cells held in the first buffer;
• allowing packets to stay in the first path when multiple source ports send the packets to a given destination port;
• and
• transmitting the second data packet.

A method for managing network traffic comprising:

• providing a first path and a second path, the first path being characterized by a first latency, the second path being characterized by a second latency, the first latency being lower than the second latency;
• determining eligibility for multiple data packets having a same destination port to be directed in the first path upon determination of the first latency due to low queue backup in the first path;
• switching incoming data packets to the second path upon determination of the first latency due to high queue backup in the first path is approximately equal to the second latency;
• switching the incoming data packets back to the first path upon determination of the first latency due to congestion and loading is reduced;
• allowing the data packets to stay in the first path upon determination of the data packets to a given destination port being sent from multiple source ports no matter whether they are front panel ports or auxiliary ports;
• and
• utilizing a single enqueue/dequeue path for the data packets in both the first path and the second path.