Permanent TCP connections across system reboots

• US 20020087697A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kashyap, Vivek
• Granted Patent: US 6,880,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Network or mobile clients are enabled to keep their connections open across shutdowns and reboots of computer systems. Transactions are suspended while the client system is down, and resumed when it comes back up, allowing end-users to perform orderly shutdowns of their systems (especially useful to save battery power on mobile systems) without risk of losing transactions on open TCP connections.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining connection between a first node and a second node in a computer network comprising:

placing the connection between the first node and the second node in a persist state;

placing the second node in an inactive state; and

reconnecting the first node and the second node.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repetitively polling the second node by the first node; and

responding by a third node acting as an agent on behalf of the second node to the polls.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting by the second node that the first node keep the connection open for a predetermined amount of time; and

maintaining the connection for that predetermined amount of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a connection between a first node and a fourth node during a shutdown of the first node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network utilizes UDP protocol.

6. A method for maintaining a connection between a node and a network, comprising:

requesting an agent to respond on behalf of the node;

providing connection information to the agent; and

placing the node in an inactive state.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reactivating the node; and

requesting the agent to stop responding on behalf of the node.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the node is mobile.

9. A system for maintaining connection between a first node and a second node in a computer network, comprising:

means for placing the connection between the first node and the second node in a persist state, in which the first node repetitively polls the second node;

means for responding by third node on behalf of the second node to the polls, such that the first node maintains the connection; and

means for placing the second node in an inactive state.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for reactivating the second node; and

means for reactivating the connection between the second node and the first node.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a means for creating (activating) a connection between a first node and a fourth node during a shutdown of the first node.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for reactivating the node; and

means for requesting the agent to stop responding on behalf of the node.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the node is mobile.

16. The article of claim 15, further comprising:

means in the medium for reactivating the second node; and

means in the medium for reactivating the connection between the second node and the first node.

17. The article of claim 15, further comprising means in the medium for activating a connection between the first node and a fourth node during a shutdown of the first node.

19. The article of claim 18, further comprising:

means in the medium for reactivating the node; and

means in the medium for requesting the agent to stop responding on behalf of the node.

20. The article of claim 18, wherein the medium is selected from the group consisting of:

a recordable data storage medium; and

a modulated carrier signal.

12. A system for maintaining connection between a node and a computer network comprising:

means for requesting an agent to respond on behalf of the node;

means for transferring connection information to the agent; and

means for placing the node in an inactive state.

15. An article for maintaining connection between a first node and a second node in a computer network system comprising:

a computer-readable signal-bearing medium;

means in the medium for placing the connection between the first node and the second node in a persist state, in which the first node repetitively polls the second node;

means in the medium for responding by third node on behalf of the second node to the polls, such that the first node maintains the connection; and

means in the medium for placing the second node in an inactive state.

18. An article for maintaining connection between a node and a computer network comprising:

a computer-readable signal-bearing medium;

means in the medium for requesting an agent to respond on behalf of the node;

means in the medium for providing or transferring connection information to the agent; and

means in the medium for placing the node in an inactive state.