Method and Apparatus for Ethernet Data Compression

Abstract

A method and apparatus for Ethernet data compression enables the size of Ethernet frames to be reduced. Compression and decompression of Ethernet frames occur by the Ethernet network elements, rather than by user computers or end devices that transmit data on the Ethernet network. A new EtherType value may be used to identify the type of compressed Ethernet frames and optionally the type of mechanism used to compress the payload of Ethernet frames. The new EtherType may be inserted into a newly assembled frame ahead of the original EtherType. Alternatively, the new EtherType may replace the original EtherType and a short subheader may be used to identify the original EtherType. Out-of-band network signaling by the Ethernet control plane may also be used to determine whether frames are to be compressed and decompressed over controlled Ethernet links and tunnels, with or without use of the new EtherType.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory processor-readable medium carrying instructions for execution by at least one processor at an Ethernet node to create a second Ethernet frame based on a first Ethernet frame, the first Ethernet frame comprising a first Ethernet header, a first payload portion, and a first frame check sequence, the instructions comprising:
 instructions executable to compress the first payload portion separately from any data transmitted in any other Ethernet frame using a first compression dictionary created and used only for the first Ethernet frame to form a compressed payload portion, the compressed payload portion comprising the first compression dictionary determined for the first Ethernet frame; and   instructions executable to create the second Ethernet frame, the second Ethernet frame comprising a second Ethernet header, the compressed payload portion and a second frame check sequence, the second Ethernet frame being smaller than the first Ethernet frame.   
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable, when a plurality of successive frames are to be compressed, to determine a respective compression dictionary for each respective frame of the successive compressed frames during compression of the respective frame. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first Ethernet header comprises a first Ethernet frame length value and the second Ethernet frame comprises a second Ethernet frame length value which is smaller than the first Ethernet frame length value. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to check a length of the compressed payload portion; and   instructions executable to create the second Ethernet frame only when the compressed payload portion is shorter than the first payload portion.   
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first Ethernet header contains a first EtherType value and the second Ethernet header contains an indication of the first EtherType value. 
     
     
         21 . The medium of  claim 20 , wherein the indication of the first EtherType value is the first EtherType value positioned in the second Ethernet frame immediately after a second EtherType value. 
     
     
         22 . The medium of  claim 20 , where the indication of the new EtherType value is a sub-header containing a bit field uniquely identifying the original EtherType value. 
     
     
         23 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first Ethernet header contains a first EtherType value and the second Ethernet header contains a second EtherType value that replaces the first EtherType value. 
     
     
         24 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to participate in out-of-band signaling with other Ethernet nodes of the communication network to determine whether an Ethernet frame should be compressed; and   instructions executable to enable compression of the Ethernet frame only when it is determined using the out-of-band signaling that the Ethernet frame should be compressed.   
     
     
         25 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine whether the communication network is experiencing congestion; and   instructions executable to enable compression of the Ethernet frame only when it is determined that the communication network is experiencing congestion.   
     
     
         26 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine whether an Ethernet frame is already compressed; and   instructions executable to enable compression of the Ethernet frame only when it is determined that the Ethernet frame is not already compressed.   
     
     
         27 . The medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine whether a received Ethernet frame is compressed; and   instructions executable when the received Ethernet frame is compressed, to decompress the frame using a compression dictionary that is included in a compressed payload portion of the received Ethernet frame.   
     
     
         28 . The medium of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine whether each of a plurality of successive Ethernet frames are compressed; and   instructions executable to decompress any compressed frames frame-by-frame, decompressing each compressed frame using a respective compression dictionary that is included in a respective compressed payload portion of each compressed frame.   
     
     
         29 . A non-transitory processor-readable medium carrying instructions for execution by at least one processor at an Ethernet node to create a second Ethernet frame based on a first Ethernet frame, the first Ethernet frame comprising a first Ethernet header, a first compressed payload portion, and a first frame check sequence, the instructions comprising:
 instructions executable to decompress the first compressed payload portion using a first compression dictionary which is included in the first compressed payload portion to form a decompressed payload portion; and   instructions executable to create the second Ethernet frame, the second Ethernet frame comprising a second Ethernet header, the decompressed payload portion and a second frame check sequence.   
     
     
         30 . The medium of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine whether the first Ethernet frame is compressed; and   instructions executable to enable decompression of the first Ethernet frame only when the first Ethernet frame is compressed.   
     
     
         31 . The medium of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine whether each of a plurality of successive Ethernet frames are compressed; and   instructions executable to enable decompression of any compressed Ethernet frames frame-by-frame, decompressing each compressed Ethernet frame using a respective compression dictionary that is included in a respective compressed payload portion of each compressed Ethernet frame.   
     
     
         32 . The medium of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions comprise:
 instructions executable to determine a previous EtherType value from a compressed Ethernet frame; and   instructions executable to restore the previous EtherType value when the compressed Ethernet frame is decompressed.   
     
     
         33 . The medium of  claim 32 , wherein the instructions executable to determine the previous EtherType value from the compressed Ethernet frame comprise instructions executable to determine the previous EtherType value from a sub-header of the compressed Ethernet frame. 
     
     
         34 . The medium of  claim 33 , wherein the sub-header contains a bit string uniquely identifying the previous EtherType. 
     
     
         35 . The medium of  claim 29 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to enable the Ethernet node to participate in Ethernet operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) signaling to collectively specify which Ethernet frames are to be compressed and decompressed.