Methods and apparatus for controlling a data stream using a host agent acting on behalf of a host computer

• US 20050094652A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Waclawsky, John G., Chawla, Hamesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/806 Broadcast or multicast traffic

Abstract

A data communications device has a controller which includes means for intercepting a request signal transmitted from a source to a host computer having a host destination address. The request signal includes the host destination address. The request signal is originally destined for receipt by a host computer that would respond with control information for controlling a manner in which the source transfers a data stream. The controller further includes means for originating a control signal in response to receiving the request signal. The control signal includes the control information for controlling the manner in which the source transfers the data stream. The controller further includes means for providing the control signal to the source to individually control the manner in which the source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams transferred by the source. The source is a routing mechanism operating within the data communications device.

Claims

1. A data communications device comprising:

a set of network ports; and

a controller coupled to the set of network ports, the controller including;

means for intercepting, through the set of network ports, a request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer having a corresponding host destination address, the request signal including the host destination address of the host computer, the request signal originally destined for receipt by the host computer that would respond with control information for controlling a manner in which the request signal source transfers a data stream;

means for originating a control signal in response to receiving the request signal, the control signal including the control information for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream; and

means for providing, through the set of network ports, the control signal to the request signal source to individually control the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams transferred by the request signal source, wherein the request signal source is a routing mechanism operating within the data communications device.

2. A method for controlling transmission of a data stream comprising:

intercepting a request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer, the request signal originally destined for receipt by the host computer that would have responded with control information for controlling a manner in which the request signal source transfers a data stream;

originating a control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including information for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream; and

providing the control signal to the request signal source in order to individually control the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of intercepting comprises intercepting a request signal transmitted from a routing mechanism operating within the data communications device.

4. The method of claim 2 comprises, in response to intercepting the request signal, generating the control signal without communicating with the host computer.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein originating the control signal comprises originating the control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including ReSerVation Protocol instructions for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream, the data stream being a ReSerVation Protocol session.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein originating the control signal comprises originating the control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including Internet Group Management Protocol instructions for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream, the data stream being a multicast session.

7. The method of claim 2 comprising:

detecting whether to contact the host computer for assistance in response to intercepting the request signal; and

in response to detecting, directing the data communications device not to contact the host computer in response to intercepting the request signal.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein intercepting the request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer comprises intercepting an interprocess communication signal through an interprocess communication interface on behalf of the host computer.

9. A data communications device comprising:

a controller; and

an agent process running on the controller, the agent process configured to;

intercept a request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer, the request signal originally destined for receipt by the host computer that would have responded with control information for controlling a manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream;

originate a control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including information for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream; and

provide the control signal to the request signal source in order to individually control the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams.

10. The data communications device of claim 9 wherein, when intercepting, the agent process is configured to intercept the request signal transmitted from a routing mechanism operating within the data communications device.

11. The data communications device of claim 9 wherein, in response to intercepting the request signal, the agent process is configured to generate the control signal without communicating with the host computer.

12. The data communications device of claim 9 wherein, when originating the control signal, the agent process is configured to originate the control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including ReSerVation Protocol instructions for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream, the data stream being a ReSerVation Protocol session.

13. The data communications device of claim 9 wherein, when originating the control signal, the agent process is configured to originate the control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including Internet Group Management Protocol instructions for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream, the data stream being a multicast session.

14. The data communications device of claim 9 wherein the agent process is configured to:

detect whether to contact the host computer for assistance in response to intercepting the request signal; and

in response to detecting, direct the data communications device not to contact the host computer in response to intercepting the request signal.

15. The data communications device of claim 9 wherein, when intercepting the request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer, the agent process is configured to intercept an interprocess communication signal through an interprocess communication interface on behalf of the host computer.

16. A computer program product that includes a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for controlling a data stream, such that the instructions, when processed by a controller, cause the controller to perform the steps of:

intercepting a request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer, the request signal originally destined for receipt by the host computer that would have responded with control information for controlling a manner in which the request signal source transfers a data stream;

originating a control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including information for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream; and

providing the control signal to the request signal source in order to individually control the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams.

17. A data communications device comprising:

a set of network ports; and

a controller coupled to the set of network ports, the controller including;

means for intercepting a request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer, the request signal originally destined for receipt by the host computer that would have responded with control information for controlling a manner in which the request signal source transfers a data stream;

means for originating a control signal in response to the request signal, the control signal including information for controlling the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream; and

means for providing the control signal to the request signal source in order to individually control the manner in which the request signal source transfers the data stream among multiple data streams.

18. The data communications device of claim 17 wherein the means for intercepting the request signal transmitted from a request signal source to a host computer comprises a means for intercepting the request signal transmitted from a routing mechanism operating within the data communications device.

19. The data communications device of claim 17 comprising a means for generating the control signal without communicating with the host computer.

20. The data communications device of claim 17 comprising:

means for detecting whether to contact the host computer for assistance in response to intercepting the request signal; and

means for directing the data communications device not to contact the host computer in response to intercepting the request signal.