Method and apparatus for improving data transmission in router fabric cards through pseudo-synchronous data switching
In a data packet router, a router fabric card for routing data packets is provided. The router fabric card comprises a plurality of ingress/egress ports, the ports connected through a switching facility for switching connection states of the port paths between individual ingress paths and individual egress paths on the fabric card, and a scheduling component for scheduling communication between ports on the fabric card. Data coming into ingress on the card is organized into individual data-packet trains, each individual train comprising data packets and inserted data denoting a starting point and an ending point of a train. The switching facility recognizes the start data and the end data of a train and switches port paths to a next-assigned connection state accordingly.
1. A fabric card for routing data packets comprising:
a plurality of ingress/egress ports;
a switching component through which the ports connect; and
a scheduling component for scheduling communication between the plurality of ports through the switching component;
characterized in that data coming into one of the plurality of ports is organized into specific data-packet trains, transmitted from a same ingress port and destined to a same egress port, each having a start-of-train (SOT) identifier and an end-of-train (EOT) identifier, and wherein the switching component recognizes the SOT and the EOT identifiers and switches transmission to a next port and train accordingly.
2. The fabric card of claim 1 wherein the switching component comprises a plurality of individual cross-point application-specific integrated circuits (CPAs).
3. The fabric card of claim 2 wherein individual ones of the CPAs further comprise a queue for listing assignments for transmission.
4. The fabric card of claim 3 wherein each CPA switches to next port assignment of its own accord.
5. The fabric card of claim 2 further comprising data queues (D-FIFOs) following individual ones of the CPAs for buffering data flow to an egress port.
6. The fabric card of claim 1 , wherein each port receiving data requests authorization to transmit from the scheduling component, and also sends an almost done flag (ADF) to the scheduling component prior to the EOT.
7. The fabric card of claim 6 wherein the scheduling component uses the ADF to trigger scheduling the sending port for a new transmission.
8. A method for high-speed transmission of packet data from ingress to egress ports connected across a fabric card through a switching component, comprising the steps of:
(a) organizing incoming data into a packet train, transmitted from a same ingress port and destined to a same egress port, and inserting therein additional data comprising a start of train (SOT) and an end of train (EOT) identifier;
(b) requesting permission from a scheduling component to transmit the assembled packet train from ingress to egress on the card through the switching component;
(c) upon receiving authorization to transmit by an ingress port, transmitting the assembled packet train trough the switching component; and
(d) upon recognizing the EOT of a packet train, switching transmission to a different packet train.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the switching component comprises a plurality of individual cross-point application-specific integrated circuits (CPAs).
10. The method of claim 9 wherein individual ones of the CPAs further comprise a queue for listing assigmnents for transmission.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein each CPA switches to next port assignment of its own accord.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising data queues (D-FIFOs) following individual ones of the CPAs, the queues buffering data flow to an egress port.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein each port receiving data requests authorization to transmit from the scheduling component, and also sends an almost done flag (ADF) to the scheduling component prior to the EOT.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the scheduling component uses the ADF to trigger scheduling the sending port for a new transmission.
15. A packet switching element comprising:
a plurality of ingress/egress ports; and
data switching components between ports;
characterized in that data coming into a first one of the plurality of ports is organized into specific data-packet trains, transmitted from a same ingress port and destined to a same egress Port, each having a start-of-train (SOT) identifier and an end-of-train (EOT) identifier, and wherein the switching element recognizes the SOT and the EOT identifiers and switches transmission to a next port and train accordingly.
16. The packet switching element of claim 15 wherein the data switching components comprise a plurality of individual cross-point application-specific integrated circuits (CPAs).
17. The packet switching element of claim 16 wherein individual ones of the CPAs further comprise a queue for listing assignments for transmission.
18. The packet switching element of claim 17 wherein each to a next port assignment of its own accord.
19. The packet switching element of claim 16 further comprising data queues (D-FIFOs) following individual ones of the CPAs for buffering data flow to an egress port.
20. The packet switching element of claim 15 wherein each port receiving data requests authorization to transmit from a scheduling component, and also sends an almost done flag (ADF) to the scheduling component prior to the EOT.
21. The packet switching element of claim 20 wherein the scheduling component uses the ADF to trigger scheduling the sending port for a new transmission.
22. A data packet router, comprising:
external ingress/egress ports for receiving and sending data packets to and from neighboring routers or hosts; and
one or more packet switching elements, each having a plurality of local ingress/egress ports and data switching components between the local ports;
characterized in that data coming into a first one of the plurality of ports is organized into specific data-packet trains, transmitted from a same ingress port and destined to a same egress port, each having a start-of-train (SOT) identifier and an end-of-train (EOT) identifier, and wherein the switching element recognizes the SOT and the EOT identifiers and switches transmission to a next port and train accordingly.
23. The data packet router of claim 22 wherein the data switching components comprise a plurality of individual cross-point application-specific integrated circuits (CPAs).
24. The data packet router of claim 23 wherein individual ones of the CPAs further comprise a queue for listing assignments for transmission.
25. The data packet router of claim 24 wherein each CPA switches to a next port assignment of its own accord.
26. The data packet router of claim 23 further comprising data queues (D-FIFOs) following individual ones of the CPAs for buffering data flow to an egress port.
27. The data packet router of claim 22 wherein each port receiving data requests authorization to transmit from a scheduling component, and also sends an almost done flag (ADF) to the scheduling component prior to the EOT.
28. The data packet router of claim 27 wherein the scheduling component uses the ADF to trigger scheduling the sending port for a new transmission.