|Publication number||US7787498 B2|
|Application number||US 11/971,386|
|Publication date||Aug 31, 2010|
|Filing date||Jan 9, 2008|
|Priority date||Jan 26, 2007|
|Also published as||CN101548505A, CN101569147A, CN101569147B, CN101578794A, CN101578794B, CN101584164A, CN101584164B, US8605757, US20080181114, US20100284421, WO2008092402A1|
|Publication number||11971386, 971386, US 7787498 B2, US 7787498B2, US-B2-7787498, US7787498 B2, US7787498B2|
|Inventors||Serge Francois Fourcand|
|Original Assignee||Futurewei Technologies, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (116), Non-Patent Citations (50), Referenced by (3), Classifications (18), Legal Events (3)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/886,833 filed Jan. 26, 2007 by Serge F. Fourcand and entitled “Closed Loop Clock Synchronization,” which is incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in its entirety.
This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/735,590 filed Apr. 16, 2007 entitled “Inter-Packet Gap Network Clock Synchronization,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/735,592 filed Apr. 16, 2007 entitled “Network Clock Synchronization Timestamp,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/735,596 filed Apr. 16, 2007 entitled “Multi-Frame Network Clock Synchronization,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/735,598 filed Apr. 16, 2007 entitled “Network Clock Synchronization Floating Window and Window Delineation,” all of which are by Serge F. Fourcand and are incorporated herein by reference as if reproduced in their entirety.
Ethernet is the preferred protocol for many types of networks because it is flexible, decentralized, and scalable. Ethernet is flexible in that it allows variable-sized data packets to be transported across different types of mediums using various nodes each having different transmission speeds. Ethernet is decentralized in that it allows the end devices to transmit and receive data without oversight or intervention from a centralized server or party. Furthermore, Ethernet is scalable in that it can be implemented in both small-scale and large-scale networks. These advantages make Ethernet a preferred choice for data distribution in many computer networks.
Unfortunately, Ethernet does have some drawbacks. When Ethernet packets are transported through the network, the Ethernet packets contend with other traffic being transported over the same links or through the same nodes. The contentious traffic not only includes packets bound for the same destination, but also packets bound for other destinations that are transported over the same link or through the same node as the Ethernet packet. This contention produces burstiness and jitter at the nodes within the network. Some of these problems can be addressed by using resource arbitration and buffers at the nodes, and by prioritizing the packets into high-priority data and low-priority data. However, these solutions increase network complexity, increase delay, and detract from the inherent advantages of Ethernet.
The aforementioned drawbacks are part of the reason Ethernet has not been widely implemented in networks carrying high-priority data. Specifically, Ethernet does not provide a sufficient Quality of Service (QoS) to meet the stringent jitter and data loss requirements for streaming audio and video data. Instead, high-priority data is carried by highly synchronized networks, such as synchronous optical networks (SONET) and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) networks. Various Ethernet enhancements, such as circuit emulation, provider backbone transport, and pseudowires, have been proposed to address the jitter and data loss issues, but these enhancements fail to couple the flexibility of Ethernet with the high QoS requirements of high-priority data. Thus, a need exists for an improved Ethernet protocol that is flexible, easy to implement, and supports the QoS requirements of high-priority data.
In one aspect, the disclosure includes a network comprising a destination node, and a plurality of source nodes configured to transmit high-priority data and low-priority data to the destination node, wherein the source nodes correlate the transmission of the high-priority data to the destination node such that the high-priority data from each source node does not substantially contend with the high-priority data from the other source nodes upon arrival at the destination node.
In another aspect, the disclosure includes a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising creating a periodic time window, partitioning the time window into low-priority time-bands and high-priority time-bands, placing a plurality of high-priority packets in the high-priority time-bands, and placing a plurality of low-priority packets in the low-priority time-bands.
These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.
It should be understood at the outset that, although an illustrative implementation of one or more embodiments are provided below, the disclosed systems, methods, or both may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the examples of designs and implementations illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
Disclosed herein is a system and method for enhancing service delivery over packet switched networks using absolute time network synchronization and inter-node synchronous scheduling. Specifically, absolute time network synchronization and inter-node synchronous scheduling may be combined to coordinate the transport of packets to nodes within a network such that the packets arrive at each node in a staggered manner. Transporting packets in a staggered manner may substantially reduce or eliminate packet contention at the destination node. With reduced contention, packets may experience less jitter and hence less delay and data loss. The system and method may support the transport of current standard packet traffic, as well as emerging constant bit rate (CBR) traffic that may require higher QoS and have a lower tolerance for jitter and data loss. In a specific embodiment, the system and method may support the distribution of TDM and fixed bandwidth traffic such as real-time audio and video applications over packet switched networks.
The nodes described herein may be any devices that forward packets to similar devices within a packet switched network. The nodes may be the originator or ultimate recipient of the packets or may merely forward received packets to other nodes. In some embodiments, the nodes may select paths for the individual packets to travel over the packet switched network. The nodes may have different properties, such as physical structure, capacity, transmission speed, and so forth. The nodes may be internal network devices such as routers, switches, or bridges, or the nodes may be user-oriented devices such as desktop computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or cellular telephones.
To support the enhanced service delivery described herein, at least some of the nodes within the network must be able to synchronize their clocks with the clocks in other nodes within the network, a process referred to herein as absolute time network synchronization. While any clock synchronization method may be used to achieve absolute time network synchronization between the nodes,
In some embodiments, it may be assumed that there are symmetric upstream and downstream transit times between the first node 102 and the second node 104. In such a case, the upstream packet transit time D1 may be substantially equal to the downstream packet transit time D3. Consequently, the transit time D1 may be calculated by subtracting the internal processing delay D2 from the round-trip packet delay D4, and dividing the difference by two. The internal processing delay D2 may be determined by subtracting the time T2 from the time T3, and the timestamp round-trip delay may be determined by subtracting the time T1 from the time T4. Thus, the transit time D1 may be estimated using equation 1:
D 1=[(T 4 −T 1)−(T 3 −T 2)]/2 (1)
The transit time D1 may be used to synchronize the second node's clock with the first node's clock. Specifically, the transit time D1 and the first node's clock timing may be sent to the second node 104 so that the second node 104 can synchronize its clock with the first node's clock. Alternatively, the first node 102 may use the transit time D1 and the downstream synchronization timestamp 108 to synchronize its clock with the second node's clock. The system 100 may recalculate the transit time D1 and resynchronize the clocks over regular time intervals to improve the estimation of the transit time D1. An embodiment of the closed-loop clock synchronization scheme shown in
The above-described clock synchronization method is not the only method by which the nodes may achieve absolute time network synchronization. Specifically, absolute time network synchronization may be implemented between the first node 102 and the second node 104 using the methods described in Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standard 1588. Alternatively, absolute time network synchronization may be implemented between the first node 102 and the second node 104 using any other absolute time synchronization scheme. Moreover, the concepts described herein may be repeated over a plurality of nodes such that three or more nodes are able to achieve absolute time network synchronization with each other. In an embodiment, some of the nodes in the group may implement one clock synchronization method while other nodes in the group may implement different clock synchronization methods to share the same absolute time.
Once the nodes share a common absolute time and are aware of the transit times between nodes, the nodes may coordinate the transport of packets within the network. Specifically, a plurality of source nodes may dispatch packets to a common destination node in a time-correlated manner such that the packets do not arrive simultaneously at the destination node, a process referred to herein as inter-node synchronous scheduling. Nodes that participate in inter-node synchronous scheduling are referred to herein as participating nodes. As part of the inter-node synchronous scheduling, the participating nodes communicate with each other or a third party and identify transmission time-bands for each node, data type, or both. By using the assigned time-bands and accounting for the transit time to the destination node, the participating nodes are able to coordinate the transport of packets to the destination node and substantially reduce or eliminate contention at the destination node.
The network 200 may also comprise a node 208 that may not support absolute time synchronization, referred to herein as a non-participating node. Without implementing absolute time synchronization, the transit time between each of the three source nodes 202, 204, and 206 and the non-participating node 208 may not be estimated. Hence, no direct inter-node synchronous scheduling may be implemented for packets transmitted from the three source nodes 202, 204, and 206 when the non-participating node 208 is the destination node. However, when there is a single path between the non-participating node 208 and the destination node, packets may arrive at the destination node 210 in the same order that they arrive at the non-participating node 208. The non-participating node 208 need not be connected to all of the source nodes 202, 204, 206 so long as any delay in the non-participating nodes is accounted for in the inter-node synchronous scheduling. Thus, packets that are dispatched from the three source nodes 202, 204, and 206 to the destination node 210 may arrive at the non-participating node 208 in a staggered manner, and thus may undergo minimal contention at the non-participating node 208.
Nodes 202, 204, 206 may send packets with various priority levels to node 210. As an example, these packets may be classified as high-priority packets (HPPs) and low-priority or best effort packets (BEPs). Additional priority levels may be used. The priority levels of the packets may be determined based on the QoS requirements of the data within the packet or some service level agreement (SLA) associated with the packet. Specifically, HPPs may comprise data with high QoS requirements, such as TDM data or streaming audio/video data. In contrast, BEPs may comprise services with low or no QoS requirements, such as Internet Protocol (IP) packets used for web browsers and email packets.
As shown in
The inter-node synchronous scheduling described herein may be modified to suit many different situations. For example, varying the quantity and sizes of the HP and LP time-bands within a periodic window may control the high-priority and low-priority traffic bandwidths in the network 200. In some instances, two or more distinct data flows of the same priority level but with different bandwidth sizes may be dispatched from the same source node. Within each flow, the packets may have different sizes. Alternatively, three or more priority levels may be considered, wherein three or more types of time-bands may be assigned to the priority levels. Packets with three or more priority levels may be dispatched from a source node over their assigned time-bands in a similar manner to the two-priority level.
Although the inter-node synchronous scheduling provides a framework for transporting HPPs from a plurality of source nodes to a single destination node without substantial contention at the source node, there may be a need for variations of the framework. Specifically, because packets can be different sizes, received at infrequent intervals, or both, the time-bands may not be filled or the packets may overrun the time-bands. Described below are three operational modes for addressing such circumstances, termed the Huawei Enhanced Provider Backbone Bridged (HE-PBB)-1 operational mode, the HE-PBB-2 operational mode, and the HE-PBB-3 operational mode.
As mentioned above, the periodic window may also contain one or more LP time-bands. In contrast with the HP time-bands, the LP time-bands between a source node and a destination node are assigned without regard to the LP time-bands between other source nodes and the destination node. Consequently, the LP time-bands between a source node and a destination node may overlap with LP time-bands assigned between other source nodes and the same destination node. BEPs are generally processed individually, and thus are not generally associated with a particular flow. However, if it is desired to associate BEPs with a BEP flow, then the source node may associate the LP time-bands within a periodic window with one or more BEP flows. As with the HP time-bands, the individual LP time-bands may be used to differentiate the BEP flows, or the BEP flows may be differentiated based on information within the packets' headers. In addition, the size and quantity of LP time-bands associated with each BEP flow may be varied to define a desired amount of bandwidth from the source node to the destination node. In addition, the LP time-bands may simply be any time-bands not designated as HP time-bands, or the LP time-bands may be a separate designation such that the periodic window may contain HP, LP, and idle time-bands.
In some instances, an HPP may exceed the length of its assigned HP time-band. Specifically, due to the variable size of the packets, the dispatch of a single packet may exceed a single time-band to which the packet was assigned. For example and with reference to
In an embodiment, the source node may balance the HPP encroachment into LP time-bands by allowing the BEPs to encroach on the HP time-bands. Specifically, the overrun of HPPs into LP time-bands gives the HPP flow more bandwidth than is allocated in the HP time-bands. The extent of the additional bandwidth may be tracked, for example, by the source node or another network component by keeping a running total of the length of each overrun. When such overruns reach a certain point, such as the size of a BEP, the source node may compensate for such overruns by allowing a BEP to replace an HPP in an HP time-band. For example and with reference to
In an embodiment, the different HP time-bands are separated by LP time-bands. When two HP time-bands associated with the same HPP flow are adjacent to one another and the HPPs exceed the first HP time-band, the encroachment of the HPPs on the second time-band has no effect on the bandwidth allocated to the HPP flow. However, when two HP time-bands associated with different HPP flows are adjacent to one another and the first HPP flow exceeds the first HP time-band, the first HPP flow encroaches on the bandwidth of the second HPP flow and jitter may occur. When such encroachment persists, the bandwidth of the second HP time-band may suffer, and may eventually cause packet losses due to memory queue overflow. Therefore, it may be necessary to separate different HP time-bands by one or more LP time-bands, keeping in mind that additional LP time-bands within the periodic window reduce the link utilization in terms of HPP transmission bandwidth.
In some instances, a BEP may exceed the length of its assigned LP time-band. For example and with reference to
In some instances, there may be idle periods when there are not any BEP or HPP to dispatch. Such instances occur, for example, when there is an inter-packet gap (IPG). In such instances, the source node may dispatch either an HPP or a BEP whenever it is ready and without regards to the classification of the time-band as HP or LP. For example and with reference to
The truncation and encapsulation of the BEPs 450 and HPPs 458 is substantially the same, and can be illustrated using HPPs 402, 404, 406 and modified HPPs 408 and 410. As HPPs 402, 404 are received by the source node, they are encapsulated within the modified HPP 408. Specifically, a new header is created for modified HPP 408 using a standard header, such as the Layer 2 framing used in Ethernet networks. In addition, the modified HPP 408 may use a standard packet size, which may be any acceptable packet size, including standard Ethernet frame sizes and jumbo Ethernet frame sizes. The standard header and packet size allows the modified HPPs 456 and modified BEPs 452 to be tunneled, routed, and otherwise processed by non-participating nodes. In addition, it would be desirable to optimize the size of the HP time-bands, LP time-bands, the modified BEPs 452 and the modified HPPs 456 such that the time-bands match the correlating modified packets to minimize the overhead due to the required second level of framing. However, this may have to be balanced with the requirements for bandwidth granularity and the desired number of time-bands that have to be supported.
After the standard header is created, the HPPs 402, 404 are added to the data section of the modified HPP 408 until the data section is filled such that the modified HPP 408 has a standard packet size. As shown in
In some embodiments, there may be instances when only one of the BEP stream and the HPP stream is being received by the source node during a non-corresponding time-band. For example, BEP 412 may be received at a time corresponding to the HP time-band 416, but no HPPs 458 are being received or buffered for subsequent encapsulation. In such a case, it is not desirable to buffer the BEP 412 and let the packet allocation 454 go idle. As such, when only one packet stream is being received during a non-corresponding time-band, that packet stream may be placed into the non-corresponding time-band for transmission to the destination node. Specifically, BEP 412 and the first part of BEP 418 can be encapsulated into modified BEP 414, which is then placed into the unused portion of HP time-band 416, e.g. the portion to the right of the dashed line, and LP time-band 420. If desired, a special control character may be used to indicate the presence of the modified BEP 452 in the HP time-band 416. It will be appreciated that this embodiment may also be implemented at the beginning of a non-corresponding time-band. In addition, the present embodiment may also be used for placing modified HPPs 456 into LP time-bands. Placing a packet stream into a non-corresponding time-band may be preferable because it may increase the utilization of the link between the source node and the destination node.
In some embodiments, BEPs 450 and HPPs 458 may be received alternatively in a limited overlapping manner. For example, BEPs 432, 434 are received and followed by HPP 430. As shown in
In some embodiments, a plurality of similar time-bands may be adjacent to one another. For example, LP time-bands 446 and 448 are adjacent to one another in
In the system 500, the beginning of each packet type is indicated by a special control character. Specifically, an HPP start character 506 is placed in the modified packet stream 522 before HPPs 502 and 504. Using the special Ethernet control symbol, the system 500 may be utilized to enforce SLAs, wherein the levels of service availability are specified. Using the special Ethernet control symbols to truncate the HPPs may also allow the use of contiguous HP time-bands while minimizing contention between HPPs at the participating nodes. The alignment of the HPP start character 506 and the HPPs 502, 504 in the modified packet stream 522 corresponds to the size and location of the HP time-band 510. Any BEPs 526 received during the HP time-bands are buffered until the next LP time-band 512. As such, HPP 504 is truncated at the end of HP time-band 510, buffered, and inserted into the modified packet stream 522 at the next HP time-band 514. When LP time-band 512 begins, a BEP start character 508 is inserted into the modified packet stream 522 and is followed by BEP 516. It will be appreciated that the BEPs 526 may be truncated in a similar manner as the HPPs 524.
The HE-PBB-3 operational mode may be advantageous for many reasons. For example, the HE-PBB-3 operational mode may prevent HPPs from encroaching on LP time-bands and BEPs from encroaching on HP time-bands. Since there are no encroachment issues, the packets are the same size as their corresponding time-bands minus the special Ethernet control symbol overhead, and hence optimal bandwidth utilization for HPPs may be achieved. The special Ethernet control symbol may also minimize BEP-to-HPP transition overhead. Because of reduced overhead during transitions between HPPs and BEPs, the system 500 may reduce the size of time-bands in the periodic time window without significant bandwidth loss. Reducing the size of time-bands in the periodic time window may further improve bandwidth granularity and enable the support of a larger number of time-bands. By supporting a larger number of time-bands within the periodic time window, the system 500 may support a larger number of logical data flows through the network.
Unlike the HE-PBB-1 and HE-PBB-2 operational modes, the HE-PBB-3 operational mode may not support the transition of the truncated HPPs and BEPs through non-participating nodes in the network. The non-participating nodes may not recognize the non-standard special Ethernet control symbols that are used in the truncated frames. For that reason, forwarding and terminating the truncated HPPs and BEPs may be done by the participating nodes of the system 500 that recognize the special Ethernet control symbols. The truncated frames may be forwarded using equipments compatible with standard Layer 1 Ethernet frames. The use of the special Ethernet control symbols may be sufficient for enhancing packet distribution and delivery with no further encapsulation, which may improve links utilization without the need for a Layer 2 Ethernet framing.
In comparison to the HE-PBB-1 and HE-PBB-2 operational modes, the HE-PBB-3 operational mode may involve less complexity in the decision logic required to handle the wide range of Ethernet packet sizes. In one embodiment, the system 500 may utilize the closed-loop clock synchronization method described above for absolute time synchronization, which may require a full-duplex mode of implementation. The full-duplex mode of implementation may also be utilized by the system 500 for preamble or header suppression to increase the available link bandwidth.
The network described above may be implemented on any general-purpose network component, such as a computer or network component with sufficient processing power, memory resources, and network throughput capability to handle the necessary workload placed upon it.
The secondary storage 604 is typically comprised of one or more disk drives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data and as an over-flow data storage device if RAM 608 is not large enough to hold all working data. Secondary storage 604 may be used to store programs that are loaded into RAM 608 when such programs are selected for execution. The ROM 606 is used to store instructions and perhaps data that are read during program execution. ROM 606 is a non-volatile memory device that typically has a small memory capacity relative to the larger memory capacity of secondary storage. The RAM 608 is used to store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to both ROM 606 and RAM 608 is typically faster than to secondary storage 604.
While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.
In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.
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|U.S. Classification||370/503, 370/458|
|Cooperative Classification||H04L47/564, H04L47/2408, H04J3/0667, H04J3/047, H04L47/10, H04L47/568, H04L47/28, H04L12/5693|
|European Classification||H04L12/56K, H04L47/56C, H04L47/24A, H04L47/10, H04L47/28, H04L47/56B, H04J3/06C1P2B|
|Jan 14, 2008||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC., TEXAS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FOURCAND, SERGE FRANCOIS;REEL/FRAME:020360/0105
Effective date: 20080103
|Jan 25, 2011||CC||Certificate of correction|
|Jan 29, 2014||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4