Scheduling and Traffic Management with Offload Processors

Abstract

A method for scheduling packet processing is disclosed. The method can include classifying network packets based on session metadata and placing the classified network packets into first multiple input/output queues, with network packets transported to a classification circuit using a memory bus having a defined memory transport protocol, reordering network packets received from the first multiple input/output queues using a scheduling circuit and placing the reordered network packets into a second multiple input/output queues, directing network packets received from the scheduling circuit through the second multiple input/output queues to multiple output ports using an arbitration circuit, and modifying network packets using multiple offload processors, each offload processor coupled to at least one of the multiple output ports, the offload processors configured to direct modified network packets back to the memory bus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for scheduling packet processing, comprising the steps of:
 classifying network packets based on session metadata and placing the classified network packets into first multiple input/output queues, with network packets transported to a classification circuit using a memory bus having a defined memory transport protocol,   reordering network packets received from the first multiple input/output queues using a scheduling circuit and placing the reordered network packets into a second multiple input/output queues,   directing network packets received from the scheduling circuit through the second multiple input/output queues to multiple output ports using an arbitration circuit, and   modifying network packets using multiple offload processors, each offload processor coupled to at least one of the multiple output ports, the offload processors configured to direct modified network packets back to the memory bus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the directing of network packets is based on availability of the multiple offload processors. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reordering of network packets is according to session priorities of the network packets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including initiating a context switch for at least one of the multiple offload processors by operation of the scheduling circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including transferring network packets into a defined traffic management queue by operation of the scheduling circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further including determining when packet processing for each of the multiple offload processors is complete by operation of the scheduling circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including preempting a current network packet processing session by operation of the scheduling circuit.