Method and device for processing real-time data
View Patent ↗A method and a device are disclosed for processing data packets which comprise real-time data packets. The data packets are classified first by a co-processor unit into at least one first data packet type comprising real-time data packets, and a second data packet type. The data packets of the first data packet type are processed via a first data path with a further co-processor unit while the data packets of the second data packet type are processed via a second data path which comprises a main processor unit. Thus real-time data packets are processed without using the main processor unit.
1. A method for processing a plurality of data packets which include real-time data packets, the method comprising:
a) classifying the plurality of data packets into at least one first data packet type and a second data packet type, wherein real-time data packets are allocated to the first data packet type and wherein the second data packet type is different from the first data packet type;
b) processing the data packets of the first data packet type via a first data path; and
c) processing the data packets of the second data packet type via a second data path,
wherein the data packets of the first data packet type are transmitted via the first data path to a first processor unit operable to process the real-time data packets, and wherein the data packets of the second data packet type are transmitted via the second data path to a second processor unit operable to process the data packets of the second data packet type,
wherein the data packets are classified at least partly in a third processor unit and depending on classification are transmitted to the first processor unit or the second processor unit,
wherein the second processor unit is a main processor unit and wherein the first processor unit and third processor unit are co-processor units, and
wherein the classification takes place temporally in a plurality of stages and after each stage the data packets are transmitted for processing to the main processor unit if they are classified as data packets of the second data packet type.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein data packets including control or signal information are allocated to the second data packet type.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first data path has a shorter delay in processing data packets than the second data path.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein connection data for the exchange of real-time data packets with a communication device is stored and wherein the data packets are classified as data packets of the first data packet type if at least part of the connection data of the data packets corresponds with the stored connection data.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data packets are classified using a port at which the data packets are received.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data packets are classified using a network address contained in the data packets.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data packets are classified as real-time data packets if they contain a protocol provided for the transmission of real-time data.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the data packets are classified as real-time data packets if the protocol provided for the transmission of real-time data refers to a real-time data port for reception of the real-time data packets.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the main processor unit allocates to the co-processor units memory areas for storage of data packets.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an availability of the first data path is checked and wherein the data packets classified as data packets of the first data packet type are transmitted for processing via the second data path if the availability of the first data path does not meet an availability threshold.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the utilization of the first data path is measured and the data packets classified as data packets of the first data packet type are transmitted for processing via the second data path if the utilization of the first data path exceeds a pre-specified value.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data packets are received via an IP transmission network.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the real-time data packets comprise speech data.
14. A device configured to process data packets which include real-time data packets, the device comprising:
a first processor configured to classify the data packets into at least one first data packet type and a second data packet type,
wherein the first processor is operable to allocate real-time data packets to the first data packet type and wherein the second data packet type is different from the first data packet type;
a first data path configured to process data packets of the first data packet type; and
a second data path configured to process data packets of the second data packet type,
wherein the second data path comprises a main processor unit,
wherein the first data path comprises a first co-processor unit configured to process the data packets of the first data packet type, wherein the first processor comprises a second co-processor unit, and wherein the first co-processor unit is connected via the first data path with the second co-processor unit and via the second data path with the main processor unit, and
wherein both the first coprocessor unit and the second co-processor unit are configured to classify the data packets into at least the first data packet type and the second data packet type, where the classification takes place in the first co-processor unit and in the second co-processor unit on the basis of different criteria, and wherein the first co-processor unit and the second co-processor unit are operable to transmit the data packets of the second data packet type to the main processor unit for processing.
15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is operable to allocate data packets with control or signal information to the second data packet type.
16. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first data path is configured with a shorter delay in processing data packets than the second data path.
17. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is
configured to store connection data for the exchange of real-time data packets with a communication device and wherein the first processor is operable to classify the data packets as data packets of the first data packet type if at least part of the connection data of the data packets corresponds with the stored connection data.
18. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is operable to classify the data packets using a port at which the data packets are received.
19. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is operable to classify the data packets using a network address included in the data packets.
20. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is operable to classify the data packets as real-time data packets if they contain a protocol provided for the transmission of real-time data.
21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the first processor is operable to classify the data packets as real-time data packets if the protocol provided for the transmission of real-time data refers to a real-time data port for reception of the real-time data packets.
22. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the main processor unit allocates to the first co-processor unit and the second co-processor unit memory areas for storage of data packets.
23. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the processor is configured to classify the data packets temporally in a plurality of stages, wherein after each of the plurality of stages the data packets are transmitted for processing to the main processor unit if the data packets are classified as data packets of the second data packet type.
24. The device according to claim 14 , the first processor is operable to check the availability of the first data path, and wherein the first processor is operable to transmit for processing data packets classified as data packets of the first data packet type via the second data path if the availability of the first data path does not meet an availability threshold.
25. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is operable to measure utilization of the first data path, and wherein the first processor is operable to transmit for processing data packets classified as data packets of the first data packet type via the second data path if the utilization of the first data path exceeds a prespecified value.
26. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the first processor is configured to receive the data packets via an IP transmission network.
27. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the real-time data packets comprise speech data.