Data communication receive processing execution thread

• US 20040057418A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Poon, Kacheong, Masputra, Cahya Adi
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/9063 Intermediate storage in different physical parts of a node or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for reliable receipt of data packets by a network device. The present invention also provides a receive thread for receiving data packets. The present invention also provides a drainer thread for processing packets according to an applicable protocol. As a result, the network device is capable of receiving and processing data packets at an increased rate.

Claims

1. A network communication process comprising:

a) receiving an interrupt;

b) executing a receive thread comprising;

receiving a plurality of data packets;

routing the received data packets; and

c) executing a drainer thread comprising controlling flow of the received data packets.

2. The network communication process according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt invokes execution of the receive thread.

3. The network communication process according to claim 2, wherein, upon completion of the receive thread, execution of the drainer thread is invoked.

4. The network communication process according to claim 3, wherein, upon invoking the drainer thread, receipt of a subsequent interrupt invokes execution of the receive thread wherein a subsequent data packet is received.

5. The network communication process according to claim 1, wherein the receive thread is adapted to increase data packet handling.

6. The network communication process according to claim 1, wherein the drainer thread is adapted to increase data packet handling.

7. The network communication process according to claim 1, wherein the routing is provided by an internet protocol (IP).

8. The network communication process according to claim 1, wherein the flow control is provided by a transmission control protocol (TCP).

9. An apparatus for providing network communication comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of data packets utilizing a first thread of execution;

a means for processing the received data packets, according to a network communication protocol, utilizing a second thread of execution; and

a means for providing payloads contained in the received data packets to a destination application, utilizing the second thread of execution.

10. The apparatus for providing network communication in accordance with claim 9, wherein the network communication protocol is a TCP/IP protocol suite.

11. The apparatus for providing network communication in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a means for dynamically allocating the second thread of execution based upon the behavior of the destination application.

12. A computer-readable medium having instructions which when executed by a network device causes the network device to implement a network communication process, comprising:

a receive thread of execution comprising

receiving a plurality of data packets;

routing the received data packets; and

a drainer thread of execution comprising

controlling flow of the received data packets.

13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein receiving the plurality of data packets comprises a data link provider interface (DLPI).

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein routing the received data packets comprises an internet protocol (IP).

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein controlling flow of the received data packets comprises a transmission control protocol (TCP).

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the receive thread of execution is adapted to increase data packet handling.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the drainer thread of execution is adapted to increase data packet handling.

18. A network communication process comprising:

a) receiving an interrupt;

b) executing a receive thread comprising;

receiving a plurality of data packets;

aggregating the received data packets; and

splitting the received data packets into aggregate headers and aggregate payloads;

c) executing a drainer thread comprising;

routing the received data packets utilizing the aggregate headers; and

controlling flow of the received data packets utilizing the aggregate headers.

19. The network communication process according to claim 18, wherein the receive thread is adapted to increase data packet handling.

20. The network communication process according to claim 18, wherein the drainer thread is adapted to increase data packet handling.