Timer management for network devices

A device comprising:

• a memory configured to store a plurality of successive wheels available to be included in traversal paths for timers running on the device, each of the wheels representing a queue of timers, and each of the wheels having a different, corresponding time delay (TO) values for queuing a timer;
• and
• processing circuitry in communication with the memory, the processing circuitry being configured to:
• determine, in response to a request for a timer, a total traversal time with respect to the timer;
• select, from the plurality of wheels stored to the memory, a subset of wheels such that a sum of the respective TO values of the selected subset of wheels is within a predetermined margin of error with respect to the total traversal time for the timer;
• and
• sequence the selected subset of wheels based on the respective TO values of the selected subset of wheels to form a traversal path with respect to the timer.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause processing circuitry of a device to:

• store, to a memory, a plurality of successive wheels available to be included in traversal paths for timers running on the device, each of the wheels representing a queue of timers, and each of the wheels having a different, corresponding time delay (TO) values for queuing a timer;
• determine, in response to a request for a timer, a total traversal time with respect to the timer;
• select, from the plurality of wheels stored to a memory, a subset of wheels such that a sum of the respective TO values of the selected subset of wheels is within a predetermined margin of error with respect to the total traversal time for the timer;
• and
• sequence the selected subset of wheels based on the respective TO values of the selected subset of wheels to form a traversal path with respect to the timer.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining a plurality of successive wheels available to be included in traversal paths for timers running on the device, each of the wheels representing a queue of timers, and each of the wheels having a different, corresponding time delay (TO) values for queuing a timer;
• means for determining, in response to a request for a timer, a total traversal time with respect to the timer;
• means for selecting, from the plurality of wheels, a subset of wheels such that a sum of the respective TO values of the selected subset of wheels is within a predetermined margin of error with respect to the total traversal time for the timer;
• and
• means for sequencing the selected subset of wheels according to a descending order of the respective TO values of the selected subset of wheels to form a traversal path with respect to the timer.