Multi-data receive processing according to a data communication protocol

• US 20040057434A1
• 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 7,269,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide for multi-data receiving and processing by a network communication protocol. The present invention aggregates multiple data packets destined for the same application. The present invention also provides for header/payload splitting. The present invention also provides for the separate processing of aggregated headers and aggregated payloads. As a result, per-packet processing costs are reduced and data locality is increased.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a driver module for communicating with a network, wherein the driver module receives a plurality of data packets;

a protocol module communicatively coupled to the driver module, wherein the protocol module processes aggregated headers of the plurality of data packets to provide routing and flow control; and

an application communicatively coupled to the protocol module, wherein the application module processes aggregated payloads of the plurality of data packets.

2. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the driver module aggregates the plurality of data packets.

3. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the driver module splits the plurality of data packets into headers and payloads.

4. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the protocol module aggregates the plurality of data packets.

5. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the protocol module splits the plurality of data packets into headers and payloads.

6. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the protocol module provides a TCP/IP protocol suite.

7. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the aggregated headers are buffered in a first contiguous memory block.

8. The network device according to claim 7, wherein the aggregated payloads are buffered in a second contiguous memory block.

9. The network device according to claim 8, wherein metadata concerning the aggregated headers are buffered in a third contiguous memory block.

10. The network device according to claim 9, wherein metadata concerning the aggregated payloads are buffered in a forth contiguous memory block.

11. The network device according to claim 9, wherein the protocol module fetches the aggregated headers from the first contiguous memory block in one input/output memory management unit utilizing the metadata.

12. The network device according to claim 10, wherein the application fetches the aggregated payloads from the second contiguous memory block in one input/output memory management unit utilizing the metadata.

13. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the driver module comprises a network interface card.

14. A method of performing network communication comprising:

accessing a plurality of received data packets;

aggregating the received data packets;

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

buffering the aggregate headers in a first contiguous memory block;

buffering the aggregate payloads in a second contiguous memory block;

buffering metadata in a third contiguous memory block, wherein the metadata comprises characteristics of the buffered aggregate headers and buffered aggregated payloads;

processing the buffered aggregated headers according to a network communication protocol; and

providing the buffered aggregated payloads to a destination application.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the network communication protocol is a TCP/IP protocol suite.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the network communication protocol comprises a network layer.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the network layer comprises an internet protocol (IP).

18. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the network communication protocol comprises a transport layer.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the transport layer comprises a transmission control protocol (TCP).

20. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein accessing the plurality of data packets is provided by a network interface card.

21. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein aggregating the data packets, splitting the data packets, buffering the aggregate headers, buffering the aggregate payloads and buffering the metadata is provided by a network interface card.

22. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein aggregating the data packets, splitting the data packets, buffering the aggregate headers, buffering the aggregate payloads and buffering the metadata is provided by a protocol module.

23. A mechanism for performing network communication comprising:

a means for processing aggregated headers of a plurality of received data packets according to a protocol; and

a means for providing aggregated payloads of the plurality of received data packets to a destination application.

24. The mechanism according to claim 23, wherein the aggregated headers are buffered in a first contiguous memory block.

25. The mechanism according to claim 24, wherein the means for processing aggregated headers according to a protocol comprises a means for fetching the aggregated headers in a single input/output memory management unit.

26. The mechanism according to claim 25, wherein the means for processing aggregated headers according to a protocol further comprises a means for processing the aggregated headers according to an internet protocol (IP).

27. The mechanism according to claim 26, wherein the means for processing aggregated headers according to a protocol further comprises a means for processing the aggregated headers according to an transmission control protocol (TCP).

28. The mechanism according to claim 24, wherein the aggregated payloads are buffered in a second contiguous memory block.

29. The method of providing network communication according to claim 28, wherein the means for providing aggregated payload to a destination application comprises:

a means for copying the aggregated payloads to an application buffer in a single input/output memory management unit.

30. A computer-readable medium having instructions which when executed by a network device causes the network device to implement a multi-data receiving method, the method comprising:

receiving data packets;

aggregating the data packets in memory;

splitting the data packets into headers and payloads;

buffering aggregated headers in a first contiguous memory block;

buffering aggregated payloads in a second contiguous memory block;

buffering metadata in a third contiguous memory block, wherein the metadata comprises characteristics of the buffered aggregated headers and buffered aggregated payloads;

processing the buffered aggregated headers according to a network communication protocol; and

providing the buffered aggregated payloads to a destination application.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the network communication protocol comprises:

a network layer; and

a transport layer.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein the network layer comprises an internet protocol (IP).

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein the transport layer comprises a transmission control protocol (TCP).