Nodal Processing Delay

networking

Definition

Nodal Processing Delay

Let a packet arrive at a node $v$ in a computer network.

The nodal processing delay $d_{\text{proc}}$ is the time required for $v$ to:

1. examine the packet header for bit errors,
2. extract the destination address, and
3. determine the outgoing link via its forwarding table $F_v$.

It is typically on the order of microseconds and is independent of packet size and link rate.

$d_{\text{proc}}$ is a component of the total packet delay.