Cell Forwarding Order Selection for Sending Packets

摘要

In one embodiment, packets are sent a packet switching mechanism of a packet switching device, which includes partitioning each particular packet into a plurality of cells with each particular packet and cell derived therefrom associated with a same particular timestamp and a same particular ingress point identifier representing an ingress point of a plurality of ingress points of the packet switching mechanism. These cells are sent through the packet switching mechanism by selecting and forwarding, at each of a plurality of points within the packet switching mechanism. A tie-breaking value is determined based on a manipulation of ingress point identifier associated with said identifiable cell in a manner to vary the tie-breaking selection ordering of ingress point identifiers for different timestamp values. The tie-breaking value is used in selecting a next cell to forward when cells are associated with a same timestamp.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
sending a plurality of packets through a packet switching mechanism of a packet switching device, which includes partitioning each particular packet into a plurality of cells with each particular packet associated with a particular timestamp and a particular ingress point identifier representing an ingress point of a plurality of ingress points of the packet switching mechanism, and with each particular cell of the plurality of cells associated with the particular packet being associated with the particular timestamp and the particular ingress point identifier; wherein said sending the plurality of packets includes sending said cells through the packet switching mechanism by selecting and forwarding, at each of a plurality of points within the packet switching mechanism, cells with an earlier timestamp before cells with a later timestamp, and determining a tie-breaking value for each of a same timestamp plurality of cells having a same timestamp and different ingress point identifiers and using said tie-breaking values to select the order to forward cells of the same timestamp plurality of cells, wherein said determining a tie-breaking value for each identifiable cell of the same timestamp plurality of cells is performed based on a manipulation of the ingress point identifier associated with said identifiable cell in a manner to vary the tie-breaking selection ordering of ingress point identifiers for different timestamp values, with the tie-breaking value being different than the ingress point identifier associated with said identifiable cell.