US RE44,119 E1Granted

Method and apparatus for packet transmission with configurable adaptive output scheduling

AssigneeWest Lane Data LLC

InventorsXiaolin Wang, Ajay C. Mahagaokar, Ray Rajib, Michael T. Wright

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Abstract

A configurable adaptive variable length data packet transmission output scheduler for enabling substantially simultaneous transmission on a common transmission link, as of fiber optics, of differentiated services for various different traffic types, executing different QOS algorithms while co-existing in a converged network environment, with simultaneous preserving of the different service characteristics for real-time or high-priority traffic and providing differentiated bandwidth allocation while achieving maximal link utilization—all through a fine and balanced control as to which type of traffic is transmitted on the link for a given duration, and how much of that traffic is transmitted on the link.

Claims30

Dependent claims

In a switch/router that routes variable length data packets in a converged network environment, a method comprising:

receiving a plurality of data packet flows, each received data packet flow of the plurality having respective customer-assigned service requirements, including definition of service, priority, delay, jitter and bandwidth characteristics;
directing the received data packet flows to corresponding egress queues;
allocating amounts of bandwidth to each data packet traffic flow of the plurality of data packet flows in accordance with the respective customer-assigned service requirements by:
selecting amounts of bandwidth assigned to each of the egress queues and determining an amount of data to be released from each egress queue;
monitoring an occupancy of each egress queue to determine an amount of unused bandwidth that is allocated to but not used in any given egress queue;
managing the unused bandwidth in a repository for unused bandwidth, so as to be available for allocation to other egress queues that can utilize the unused bandwidth;
and
making at least a portion of the unused bandwidth available from the repository for use by another egress queue that has more data to send than the allocated bandwidth will permit;
and
scheduling a departure order of the each of the plurality of data packet traffic flows from the switch/router to a common communication link based upon and adapted to the respective customer-assigned service requirements, by selecting, independently of bandwidth allocation, at least one of an order and a priority of data packet release from the egress queues to the common communication link,
whereby the switch/router provides differentiated services for the plurality of data packet traffic flows, while simultaneously substantially filling a total data packet flow capacity utilization of the common communication link.

8 more elements

A switch/router that routes variable length data packets in a converged network environment, the switch/router comprising, in combination:

means for receiving a plurality of data packet flows, each received data packet flow of the plurality having respective customer-assigned service requirements, including definition of service, priority, delay, jitter and bandwidth characteristics;
means for directing the received data packet flows to corresponding egress queues;
means for allocating amounts of bandwidth to each data packet traffic flow of the plurality of data packet flows in accordance with the respective customer-assigned service requirements through:
means for selecting amounts of bandwidth assigned to each of the egress queues and determining an amount of data to be released from each egress queue;
means for monitoring an occupancy of each egress queue to determine an amount of unused bandwidth that is allocated to but not used in any given egress queue;
means for managing the unused bandwidth in a repository for unused bandwidth, so as to be available for allocation to other egress queues that can utilize the unused bandwidth;
and
means for making at least a portion of the unused bandwidth available from the repository for use by another egress queue that has more data to send than the allocated bandwidth will permit;
and
means for scheduling a departure order of the each of the plurality of data packet traffic flows from the switch/router to a common communication link based upon and adapted to the respective customer-assigned service requirements, by selecting, independently of bandwidth allocation, at least one of an order and a priority of data packet release from the egress queues to the common communication link,
whereby the switch/router provides differentiated services for the plurality of data packet traffic flows, while simultaneously substantially filling a total data packet flow capacity utilization of the common communication link.

8 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving, at a switch/router, a plurality of packet data flows;
the switch/router directing the received plurality of data packet flows to one or more corresponding egress queues;
the switch/router assigning, for an egress queue of the one or more egress queues, at least an amount of allocated bandwidth and an amount of data to be released;
the switch/router monitoring an occupancy of the one or more egress queues to determine an amount of unused bandwidth allocated to but not used by the one or more egress queues;
the switch/router managing the amount of unused bandwidth in an unused-bandwidth repository to enable allocation of the amount of unused bandwidth by at least one egress queue of the one or more egress queues that can utilize unused bandwidth;
the switch/router making at least a portion of the amount of unused bandwidth available from the unused-bandwidth repository for use by the at least one egress queue that can utilize the unused bandwidth;
and
the switch/router selecting, independently of bandwidth allocation, at least one of an order and a priority of data packet release from the one or more egress queues to a common communication link.

5 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

one or more egress queues;
one or more ingress ports, configured to at least:
receive a plurality of packet data flows and
direct the received plurality of data packet flows to the one or more corresponding egress queues;
a traffic manager, comprising an unused-bandwidth repository, and configured to at least:
assign, for an egress queue of the one or more egress queues, at least an amount of allocated bandwidth and an amount of data to be released;
monitor an occupancy of the one or more egress queues to determine an amount of unused bandwidth allocated to but not used by the one or more egress queues;
manage the amount of unused bandwidth in the unused-bandwidth repository to enable allocation of the amount of unused bandwidth by at least one egress queue of the one or more egress queues that can utilize unused bandwidth;
make at least a portion of the amount of unused bandwidth available from the unused-bandwidth repository for use by the at least one egress queue that can utilize the unused bandwidth;
and
select, independent of bandwidth allocation, at least one of an order and a priority of data packet release from the one or more egress queues to a common communication link.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.