Hybrid method and device for transmitting packets
View Patent ↗A method for transmitting packets, the method includes receiving multiple packets at multiple queues. The method is characterized by dynamically defining fixed priority queues and weighted fair queuing queues, and scheduling a transmission of packets in response to a status of the multiple queues and in response to the definition. A device for transmitting packets, the device includes multiple queues adapted to receive multiple packets. The device includes a circuit that is adapted to dynamically define fixed priority queues and weighted fair queuing queues out of the multiple queues and to schedule a transmission of packets in response to a status of the multiple queues and in response to the definition.
1. A method for transmitting packets, the method comprises:
receiving multiple packets at multiple queues;
defining a first queue of the multiple queues as a fixed priority queue and a second queue of the multiple queues as a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) queue, wherein the defining comprises programming a mask register and a shadow mask register;
scheduling a first transmission of a first set of packets of the multiple packets in response to a status of the multiple queues based upon the mask register and in response to the defining;
redefining the first queue as a WFQ queue or the second queue as a fixed priority queue based upon the shadow mask register; and
scheduling a second transmission of a second set of packets of the multiple packets in response to the redefining.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises monitoring a status of at least one queue by a comparing between a queue write counter and between a queue read counter.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein scheduling the first transmission is further responsive to rate limiting parameters.
4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising defining at least one queue as a bypass queue, wherein a scheduling of packets of the bypass queue ignores the rate limiting parameters.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein scheduling the first transmission is responsive to an aggregate bandwidth.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein a bandwidth allocated for a transmission of packets from at least one non-bypass queue is responsive to the aggregate bandwidth and to bandwidth required for a transmission of packets from at least one bypass queue.
7. The method according to claim 5 wherein a bandwidth allocated for a transmission of packets from at least one non-bypass queue is responsive to the aggregate bandwidth and ignores bandwidth required for a transmission of packets from at least one bypass queue.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a scheduling of a packet of a WFQ queue is responsive to a WFQ queue weight, to a waiting period of a packet in a WFQ queue and to bandwidth consumed by packets from that WFQ queue.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising defining at least one queue as a non-affecting aggregate bandwidth queue.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a time variable in response to a longest packet transmission interval, and a time parameter that is responsive to an allowed aggregate bandwidth.
11. A device for transmitting packets, the device comprises:
multiple queues adapted to receive multiple packets;
a circuit that is adapted to: dynamically
define a first queue of the multiple queues as a fixed priority queue and a second queue of the multiple queues as a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) queue;
schedule a first transmission of a first set of packets of the multiple packets in response to a status of the multiple queues and in response to the definition;
redefine the first queue as a WFQ queue or the second queue as a fixed priority queue; and
schedule a second transmission of a second set of packets of the multiple packets in response to the redefinition; and
a programmable component adapted to store a mask register and a shadow mask register that define the WFQ queues.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the device comprises multiple queue-in counters and multiple queue-out counters.
13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the device is responsive to rate limiting parameters.
14. The device according to claim 13 further adapted to define at least one queue as a bypass queue, wherein the device schedules a transmission of packets of the bypass queue regardless of rate limiting parameters.
15. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the device schedules a transmission of packets in response to an aggregate bandwidth.
16. The device according to claim 15 wherein a bandwidth allocated for a transmission of packets from at least one non-bypass queue is responsive to the aggregate bandwidth and to bandwidth required for a transmission of packets from at least one bypass queue.
17. The device according to claim 15 wherein a bandwidth allocated for a transmission of packets from at least one non-bypass queue is responsive to the aggregate bandwidth and ignores bandwidth required for a transmission of packets from at least one bypass queue.
18. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the device schedules a transmission of a packet of a WFQ queue in response to a WFQ queue weight, to a packet wait in WFQ queue period and to bandwidth consumed by packets from that WFQ queue.
19. The device according to claim 11 , further adapted to define at least one queue as a non-affecting aggregate bandwidth queue.
20. The device according to claim 11 , further adapted to adjust a time variable in response to a longest packet transmission interval and a time parameter that is responsive to an allowed aggregate bandwidth.
21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, the set of instructions, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to:
receive indication about multiple packets received at multiple queues;
define a first queue of the multiple queues as a fixed priority queue and a second queue of the multiple queues as a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) queue;
schedule a first transmission of a first set of packets of the multiple packets in response to a status of the multiple queues and in response to the definition;
redefine the first queue as a WFQ queue or the second queue as a fixed priority queue;
schedule a second transmission of a second set of packets of the multiple packets in response to the redefinition; and
a WFQ mask register for defining which queues are WFQ queues; a fixed priority (FP) mask register for defining which queues are fixed priority queues, and a shadow mask register.