Apparatus for enabling multi-tuple TCP sockets within a computer network

• US 20040246971A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vallabhaneni, Vasu, Banerjee, Dwip N., Fernandes, Lilian Sylvia
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• 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 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for enabling multi-tuple TCP sockets within a computer network is disclosed. All possible connection paths between a first computer and a second computer are initially determined. Then, tuple information of all the possible connection paths are stored in a respective socket of the first and second computers as multi-tuple information. Next, one of the possible connection paths is designated as a preferred path and the remaining possible connection paths are designated as alternate paths. Finally, data packets are transmitted via the preferred path after a TCP connection has been established between the first and second computers on the preferred path.

Claims

1. A method for providing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between a first computer and a second computer within a computer network, said method comprising:

determining all possible connection paths between said first and second computers;

storing tuple information of said all possible connection paths in a respective socket of said first and second computers as multi-tuple information;

designating one of said all possible connection paths as a preferred path and the remaining possible connection paths as alternate paths; and

transmitting data packets via said preferred path after a TCP connection has been established between said first and second computers on said preferred path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further includes transmitting packets via one of said alternative paths based on said multi-tuple information, in response to a transmission problem encountered by said preferred path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said method further includes designating said one of said alternative paths as said preferred path when said one of said alternative paths has been utilized relatively more frequent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said multi-tuple information includes a list of four-tuples.

5. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for providing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between a first computer and a second computer within a computer network, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for determining all possible connection paths between said first and second computers;

program code means for storing tuple information of said all possible connection paths in a respective socket of said first and second computers as multi-tuple information;

program code means for designating one of said all possible connection paths as a preferred path and the remaining possible connection paths as alternate paths; and

program code means for transmitting data packets via said preferred path after a TCP connection has been established between said first and second computers on said preferred path.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein said computer program product further includes program code means for transmitting packets via one of said alternative paths based on said multi-tuple information, in response to a transmission problem encountered by said preferred path.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein said computer program product further includes program code means for designating said one of said alternative paths as said preferred path when said one of said alternative paths has been utilized relatively more frequent.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein said multi-tuple information includes a list of four-tuples.

9. An apparatus for providing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between a first computer and a second computer within a computer network, said apparatus comprising:

means for determining all possible connection paths between said first and second computers;

means for storing tuple information of said all possible connection paths in a respective socket of said first and second computers as multi-tuple information;

means for designating one of said all possible connection paths as a preferred path and the remaining possible connection paths as alternate paths; and

means for transmitting data packets via said preferred path after a TCP connection has been established between said first and second computers on said preferred path.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said apparatus further includes means for transmitting packets via one of said alternative paths based on said multi-tuple information, in response to a transmission problem encountered by said preferred path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus further includes means for designating said one of said alternative paths as said preferred path when said one of said alternative paths has been utilized relatively more frequent.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said multi-tuple information includes a list of four-tuples.