Packet distributing apparatus and packet distributing method
View Patent ↗In a packet distributing apparatus and a packet distributing method which, in a situation in which a link can be allocated to a specific user or a specific traffic with priority, can effectively utilize any unoccupied link, a packet inputted via first through Nth the input interface circuits 203 1 through 203 N is provided by a transfer destination searching unit 205 with a transfer destination port and a transfer-admissible port. Then usage detecting units 211 1 through 211 N check the usage of a transfer-admissible port matching the pertinent one of first through Nth output buffer units 209 1 through 209 N , and distribute the packet to a transfer-admissible port bearing a less load than a prescribed level (less loaded transfer-admissible port), such as an unloaded port. If there is no such less loaded transfer-admissible port, the packet is distributed to the transfer destination port for which it is destined in its own right. This arrangement makes it possible to utilize unoccupied ports and thereby to effectively utilize the links.
1. A packet distributing apparatus for distributing each of packets inputted from a plurality of input ports to one of a plurality of output ports, comprising:
a port information searching unit for searching, on the basis of information written in said packet, for a transfer destination output port to be selected with priority as an output port and for transfer-admissible output ports;
packet storage buffers for temporarily storing said packet;
a transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit for searching for a less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports in which the quantity of buffered packet data is less than a prescribed value, on the basis of the usage of the matching one of said packet storage buffers; and
a packet sending unit for sending, when the load on said transfer destination port is heavy, said packet stored in said packet storage buffer to said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports which has been detected, said packet sending unit comprising a distribution unit for distributing said packet to one of the less loaded ones of said transfer-admissible ports at a probability equal to the reciprocal of the total number of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports if said transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit finds the presence of a plurality of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports whose quantity of buffered packet data is less than the prescribed value among said transfer-admissible ports.
2. A packet distributing apparatus for distributing each of packets inputted from a plurality of input ports to one of a plurality of output ports, comprising:
a port information searching unit for searching, on the basis of information written in said packet, for a transfer destination output port to be selected with priority as an output port and for transfer-admissible output ports;
packet storage buffers for temporarily storing said packet;
a transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit for searching for a less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports in which the quantity of buffered packet data is less than a prescribed value, on the basis of the usage of the matching one of said packet storage buffers; and
a packet sending unit for distributing, if said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports is detected, the packet stored in said packet storage buffers to said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports or, if said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports is not detected, the packet stored in said packet storage buffers to said transfer destination port, said packet sending unit comprising a distribution unit for distributing said packet to one of the less loaded ones of said transfer-admissible ports at a probability equal to the reciprocal of the total number of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports if said transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit finds the presence of a plurality of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports whose quantity of buffered packet data is less than the prescribed value among said transfer-admissible ports.
3. A packet distributing apparatus for distributing each of packets inputted from a plurality of input ports to one of a plurality of output ports, comprising:
a port information searching unit for searching, on the basis of information written in said packet, for a transfer destination output port to be selected with priority as an output port and for transfer-admissible output ports;
packet storage buffers for temporarily storing said packet;
a transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit for searching for a less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports in which the quantity of buffered packet data is less than a prescribed value, on the basis of the usage of the matching one of said packet storage buffers; and
a packet sending unit for sending, when the load on said transfer destination port is heavy, said packet stored in said packet storage buffer to said less loaded one of said transfer admissible output ports which has been detected, said packet sending unit comprising a usage checking unit for computing a quantity of the packets to be distributed to each of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports on the basis of the ratio in which said less loaded transfer-admissible ports admit loads, and a distribution unit for distributing the packet to one of the less loaded transfer-admissible ports according to the result of computation by the usage checking unit if said transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit finds the presence of a plurality of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports whose quantity of buffered packet data is less than the prescribed value among said transfer-admissible ports.
4. A packet distributing apparatus for distributing each of packets inputted from a plurality of input ports to one of a plurality of output ports, comprising:
a port information searching unit for searching, on the basis of information written in said packet, for a transfer destination output port to be selected with priority as an output port and for transfer-admissible output ports;
packet storage buffers for temporarily storing said packet;
a transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit for searching for a less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports in which the quantity of buffered packet data is less than a prescribed value, on the basis of the usage of the matching one of said packet storage buffers; and
a packet sending unit for distributing, if said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports is detected, the packet stored in said packet storage buffers to said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports or, if said less loaded one of said transfer-admissible output ports is not detected, the packet stored in said packet storage buffers to said transfer destination port, said packet sending unit comprising a usage checking unit for computing a quantity of the packets to be distributed to each of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports on the basis of the ratio in which said less loaded transfer-admissible ports admit loads, and a distribution unit for distributing the packet to one of the less loaded transfer-admissible ports according to the result of computation by the usage checking unit if said transfer-admissible port loaded state judging unit finds the presence of a plurality of said less loaded transfer-admissible ports whose quantity of buffered packet data is less than the prescribed value among said transfer-admissible ports.