Programmable multi-service queue scheduler
View Patent ↗A system and method for scheduling data utilizes a number of queues for receiving data. A programmable criteria table comprises a number of entries each associated with one of the queues. The entries of the criteria table comprise programmable traffic parameters selected to associate the queues with particular traffic characteristics governing a flow of data through the queues. A programmable mapping table maps each of the queues to one of the criteria table entries. The criteria table is programmable independently from the mapping table. A scheduling period timer produces epoch time signals that define scheduling time periods. The scheduling of queues changes between scheduling time periods in accordance with the traffic parameters associated with the queues. The scheduling time period is dynamically programmable. The traffic parameters are dynamically programmable to alter a scheduling prioritization of the queues.
1. A method of scheduling data, comprising:
for each of a plurality of criteria entries,
initializing a plurality of alterable traffic parameters; and
ordering the plurality of criteria entries to achieve a desired set of traffic characteristics;
receiving variable length data by a plurality of queues;
mapping each queue in the plurality of queues to a selected one of the plurality of criteria entries;
reading the plurality of alterable traffic parameters associated with the selected one of the plurality of criteria entries corresponding to each queue in the plurality of queues, the read alterable traffic parameters selected to associate a particular queue with a particular portion of the desired set of traffic characteristics;
scheduling the queues to output the received data using the read alterable traffic parameters and the ordering of the criteria entry corresponding to the read alterable traffic parameters; and
dynamically modifying the plurality of alterable traffic parameters in the plurality of criteria entries and the ordering of the plurality of criteria entries to update the desired set of traffic characteristics before repeating the steps of receiving variable length data through scheduling the queues.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the traffic parameters are alterable to associate a particular queue with a particular Quality of Service (QOS).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the traffic parameters are alterable to associate a particular queue with a particular traffic type.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the particular traffic type comprises at least a real lime traffic type and a best effort traffic type.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the traffic parameters are alterable to alter a scheduling prioritization of the queues.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mapping a set of alterable traffic parameters to each of the queues.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising altering the mapping of the set of alterable traffic parameters.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising altering the set of alterable traffic parameters.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of queues comprise ingress queues or egress queues.
10. An apparatus for scheduling data, comprising:
means for dynamically creating a plurality of criteria entries;
means for initializing and dynamically modifying a plurality of alterable traffic parameters corresponding to each of the plurality of criteria entries to achieve a desired set of traffic characteristics;
means for receiving variable length data by a plurality of queues;
means for mapping each of the plurality of queues to a selected one of the plurality of criteria entries;
means for reading a plurality of alterable traffic parameters associated with each of the plurality of queues, the alterable traffic parameters selected from the criteria entries associated with a particular queue with representing at least a particular portion of the desired set of traffic characteristics; and
means for scheduling the queues to output the received data using the read alterable traffic parameters.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the traffic parameters are alterable to associate a particular queue with a particular Quality of Service (QOS).
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the traffic parameters are alterable to associate a particular queue with a particular traffic type.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the particular traffic type comprises at least a real time traffic type and a best effort traffic type.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the traffic parameters are alterable to alter a scheduling prioritization of the queues.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising means for mapping a set of alterable traffic parameters to each of the queues.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising means for altering the mapping of the set of alterable traffic parameters.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising means for altering the set of alterable traffic parameters.
18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of queues comprise ingress queues or egress queues.