Traffic metering and shaping for network packets

Abstract

An integrated circuit device comprising, an interface configured to receive signals external to said integrated circuit device; a memory; a logic unit; and a lookup table coupled with the logic unit, wherein the lookup table is configured to govern traffic of a network.

1 . An integrated circuit device comprising:
 an interface configured to receive signals external to said integrated circuit device;   a memory;   a logic unit; and   a lookup table coupled with said logic unit, wherein said lookup table is configured to govern traffic of a network.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said interface comprises a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) interface. 
     
     
         3 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said signals comprise:
 serial data. 
 
     
     
         4 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said signals comprise:
 a colored packet. 
 
     
     
         5 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said logic unit comprises:
 a token bucket. 
 
     
     
         6 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said logic unit further comprises:
 a metering logic unit comprising a meter. 
 
     
     
         7 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said logic unit further comprises:
 a metering logic unit comprising a marker. 
 
     
     
         8 . The integrated circuit device of  claim 1  wherein said integrated circuit device further comprises:
 a write buffer. 
 
     
     
         9 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein said integrated circuit device further comprises:
 a bypass block. 
 
     
     
         10 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein said integrated circuit device further comprises:
 lifetime counters. 
 
     
     
         11 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1 , wherein said memory further comprises:
 lifetime counters.   
     
     
         12 . A data traffic governing system comprising:
 a packet processor; and   an integrated circuit device comprising:
 an interface configured to receive signals from said packet processor; 
 a memory; 
 a logic unit; and 
 a lookup table coupled with said logic unit, wherein said lookup table is configured provide information to said packet processor to govern traffic of said signals. 
   
     
     
         13 . The data traffic governing system of  claim 12  wherein said signals comprise:
 a colored packet. 
 
     
     
         14 . The data traffic governing system of  claim 12  wherein said logic unit comprises:
 a token bucket. 
 
     
     
         15 . The data traffic governing system of  claim 12  wherein said logic unit further comprises:
 a metering logic unit comprising a meter. 
 
     
     
         16 . The data traffic governing system of  claim 12  wherein said logic unit further comprises:
 a metering logic unit comprising a marker. 
 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method for governing traffic signals, said computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving signals at a logic unit of an integrated circuit device, wherein said signals are from a packet processor; and   governing traffic of said signals based on instructions provided by a lookup table integrated with said integrated circuit device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein said governing traffic further comprises:
 metering traffic of said signals based on use of a token bucket.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein said governing traffic further comprises:
 marking data packets based on instructions provided by a lookup table.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , wherein said governing traffic further comprises:
 shaping traffic to bring packets into compliance with a traffic contract based on instructions provided by said lookup table.