US6134218A
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US
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Many dimensional congestion detection system and method
Assignee: Microsemi Solutions US Inc
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Filing: 1997-11-14
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Granted: 2000-10-17
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Expires: 2017-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A congestion detection system and method for an advanced ATM network measures congestion in a number of dimensions. In one embodiment, cell traffic is measured on a per virtual channel basis, per service class queue basis and a per device basis within an input routing table, and additionally on a per virtual output and per service class basis within an output routing table. In a specific embodiment, upon each measurement, cell traffic is compared to thresholds corresponding to that measurement's congested and maximum limit and a congestion or maximum signal is sent if that threshold is exceeded.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian D. Holden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L49/00; H04L49/15; H04L49/1553; H04L49/1576; H04L49/30; H04L49/3081; H04L49/309; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04J; H04J2203/00; H04J2203/0001; H04J2203/0064; H04J2203/0067; H04J2203/0071; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/5631; H04L2012/5636; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5651; H04L2012/5678; H04L2012/5681; H04L2012/5682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for detecting congestion within an ATM device, the device having at least one buffer pool, a plurality of service classes and a plurality of virtual channels, the method comprising: counting the number of cells in a buffer in a virtual channel and determining a virtual channel count; comparing said virtual channel count to a virtual channel count threshold; generating a virtual channel congestion signal if indicated by said virtual channel compare; determining a service class count by counting the number of cells in a buffer within a service class; comparing said service class count to a preset service class threshold; generating a service class congestion signal if indicated by said service class compare; determining a number of available cell buffers remaining in a buffer pool as a device count; comparing said device count to a preset device threshold; generating a device congestion signal if indicated by said device count compare; and receiving any generated congestion signals and initiating one or more congestion management actions if one or more of said congestion signals is received.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for detecting congestion within an ATM device, the device having at least one buffer pool, a plurality of service classes and a plurality of virtual channels, the method comprising: counting the number of cells in a buffer in a virtual channel and determining a virtual channel count; comparing said virtual channel count to a virtual channel count threshold; generating a virtual channel congestion signal if indicated by said virtual channel compare; determining a service class count by counting the number of cells in a buffer within a service class; comparing said service class count to a preset service class threshold; generating a service class congestion signal if indicated by said service class compare; determining a number of available cell buffers remaining in a buffer pool as a device count; comparing said device count to a preset device threshold; generating a device congestion signal if indicated by said device count compare; and receiving any generated congestion signals and initiating one or more congestion management actions if one or more of said congestion signals is received.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising: counting the number of cells in a buffer for a virtual output and determining a virtual output count; comparing said virtual output count to a virtual output count threshold; and generating a virtual output congestion signal if indicated by said virtual output compare.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 2 further comprising: determining a service class queue count by counting the number of cells in a service class queue; comparing said service class queue count to a service class queue threshold; and generating a service class queue congestion signal if said service class queue count exceeds said service class queue threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein for each threshold two threshold values are stored, the first being an initial threshold and the second being a maximum threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein when an initial threshold value is exceeded, a congestion management action is taken according to that threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein when a maximum threshold value is exceeded, cells are dropped unconditionally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein a threshold value is stored as a power of two.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein a threshold value is stored as a power of two and at least one bit of mantissa to add to the resolution of the stored threshold value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said one or more congestion management actions can be one or more actions from the set consisting of: Cell Loss Priority Marked Cell Dropping, Early Packet Discard, Random Early Discard, Explicit Forward Congestion Indication Marking, Congestion Indication Marking, and Explicit Rate Signaling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein a choice of congestion management actions is selected on a per virtual channel basis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein for at least one stored threshold, a state bit is kept to allow a hysteresis function to be implemented so that a congestion management action can be taken for an extended period until congestion is relieved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
An ATM device capable of detecting congestion in a plurality of dimensions comprising: a cell buffer; an input line for receiving ATM cells; an output line for outputting ATM cells; a controller for receiving congestion indications; a virtual channel counter and a virtual channel count threshold; a service class counter and a service class counter threshold; a device counter and a device counter threshold; a comparator for comparing a value in one of said counters to its corresponding threshold and generating a congestion indication; and a configuration memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
An ATM device capable of detecting congestion in a plurality of dimensions comprising: a cell buffer; an input line for receiving ATM cells; an output line for outputting ATM cells; a controller for receiving congestion indications; a virtual channel counter and a virtual channel count threshold; a service class counter and a service class counter threshold; a device counter and a device counter threshold; a comparator for comparing a value in one of said counters to its corresponding threshold and generating a congestion indication; and a configuration memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 12 further comprising a service class queue counter and a service class queue counter threshold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 12 further comprising a service class group counter and a service class group threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device according to claim 12 wherein count values and threshold values are stored in said configuration memory and loaded into said counters for the processing of a cell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device according to claim 12 wherein said counters are incorporated into independent arithmetic logic units, each able to simultaneously perform a count decrement or increment and threshold compare during processing of a cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device according to claim 12 further comprising a virtual channel configuration entry containing a queue depth value for a virtual channel, at least one threshold value, and at least one congestion management action bit indicating appropriate congestion management action for a virtual channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |