Method, apparatus, and computer program product for implementing packet ordering
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPaul Allen Ganfield, Kerry Christopher Imming, John David Irish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for implementing packet ordering in a network processor. Packets are received and placed on a receive queue and a queue entry is provided for each received packet. The queue entry includes for each autoroute packet, an autoroute indication and a selected transmit queue. An associated ordering queue is provided with the receive queue. A software-handled packet is dequeued from the receive queue and the dequeued software-handled packet is placed on the ordering queue. Each autoroute packet reaching a head of the receive queue is automatically moved to the selected ordering queue.
Claims12
A method for implementing packet ordering in a network processor comprising the steps of:
- receiving packets and placing said received packets on a receive queue and providing a queue entry for each said received packet;
- said queue entry including for each autoroute packet, an autoroute indication and a selected transmit queue;
- providing an associated ordering queue with said receive queue;
- dequeuing a software-handled packet from said receive queue and placing said dequeued software-handled packet on said ordering queue;
- automatically moving each said autoroute packet reaching a head of said receive queue to said ordering queue;
- and
- moving a next packet from said ordering queue to a selected transmit queue for network transmission.
Apparatus for implementing packet ordering in a network processor comprising:
- a receive queue for receiving packets;
- said receive queue including a queue entry for each said received packet;
- said queue entry including for each autoroute packet, an autoroute indication and a selected transmit queue;
- an associated ordering queue with said receive queue;
- software for dequeuing a software-handled packet from said receive queue and placing said dequeued software-handled packet on said ordering queue;
- and
- dataflow assist hardware for automatically moving each said autoroute packet reaching a head of said receive queue to said ordering queue;
- and for moving a next packet from said ordering gueue to a selected transmit gueue for network transmission.
A computer readable storage media for implementing packet ordering in a network processor system, said computer readable storage media including a plurality of computer executable instructions and, wherein said instructions, when executed by the network processor system, cause the network processor system to perform the steps of:
- providing a receive queue for receiving packets;
- said receive queue including a queue entry for each said received packet;
- said queue entry including for each autoroute packet, an autoroute indication and a selected transmit queue;
- providing an associated ordering queue with said receive queue;
- dequeuing a software-handled packet from said receive queue and placing said dequeued software-handled packet on said ordering queue;
- automatically moving each said autoroute packet reaching a head of said receive queue to said ordering queue;
- and
- moving a next packet from said ordering gueue to a selected transmit gueue for network transmission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.