Method and apparatus for scheduling packets for transmission in a network processor having a programmable pipeline

摘要

A network processor includes an arbitration device, a processing device, and a pipeline. The arbitration device receives a first packet and a second packet. The second packet includes a first control message. The pipeline includes access devices, where the access devices include first and second access devices. The pipeline, based on a clock signal, forwards the first and second packets between successive ones of the access devices. The arbitration device: sets a timer based on at least one of (i) an amount of time for data to travel between the first and second access devices, or (ii) a number of pipeline stages between the first and second access devices; adjusts a variable based on (i) the clock signal, and (ii) transmission of the first packet from the arbitration device to the pipeline; and based on the timer and the variable, schedules transmission of the second packet through the pipeline.

主权项

1. A network processor comprising:
an arbitration device configured to receive a first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet includes a first control message; at least one processing device; and a pipeline comprising a plurality of access devices, wherein the plurality of access devices comprises a first access device and a second access device, wherein the pipeline is configured to, based on a clock signal, forward the first packet and the second packet between successive ones of the plurality of access devices, and wherein the arbitration device is configured to
set a timer based on at least one of (i) an amount of time for data to travel between the first access device and the second access device, or (ii) a number of pipeline stages between the first access device and the second access device,adjust a variable based on (i) the clock signal, and (ii) transmission of the first packet from the arbitration device to the pipeline, andbased on the timer and the variable, schedule transmission of the second packet through the pipeline.