Packet shaping in a network processor

摘要

A circuit operates to manage transmittal of packets in a network packet processor. The circuit includes a packet descriptor manager (PDM), a packet scheduling engine (PSE), and a packet engines and buffering module (PEB). The PDM generates a metapacket and a descriptor from a command signal, where the command signal identifies a packet to be transmitted by the circuit. The PSE compares a packet transmission rate associated with the packet against at least one of a peak rate and a committed rate associated with the packet, and determines an order in which to transmit the packet among a number of packets based on the comparison. Once the packet is scheduled for transmission, the PEB performs processing operations on the packet to produce a processed packet based on instructions indicated in the descriptor. The PEB then causes the processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination.

主权项

1. A circuit for managing transmittal of packets, the circuit comprising:
a packet descriptor manager (PDM) circuit module configured to generate a metapacket from a command signal, the metapacket indicating a size and a destination of a packet to be transmitted by the circuit, the metapacket including an entry stating the size of the packet; a packet scheduling engine (PSE) circuit module configured to compare a packet transmission rate associated with the packet against at least one of a peak rate and a committed rate associated with the packet, the PSE determining an order in which to transmit the packet among a plurality of packets based on the comparison; and a packet engines and buffering (PEB) circuit module configured to process the packet and cause a processed packet to be transmitted toward the destination according to the order determined by the PSE; wherein the PSE is further configured to compare, for a plurality of nodes in a path between the circuit and the destination, a packet transmission rate associated with the node against at least one of a peak rate and a committed rate associated with the node, the PSE determining the order based on the comparisons.