Guaranteed delivery of application layer messages by a network element

• US 20060129650A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Ricky, Anthias, Tefcros
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data

Abstract

A method is disclosed by which network elements such as packet routers and packet switches guarantee the delivery of application layer messages within a network. According to one aspect, a first network element retrieves an application layer message from a source message queue, adds a message identifier to the application layer message, encapsulates the application layer message into data packets, and sends the data packets toward a destination application. A second network element intercepts the data packets, determines the application layer message from payload portions of the data packets, determines the message identifier from the application layer message, stores the application layer message in a destination message queue, generates an acknowledgement message that contains the message identifier, and sends the acknowledgement message toward a source application. The first network element intercepts the acknowledgement message and concludes that the application layer message within the matching message identifier was successfully delivered.

Claims

1. A method of providing reliable delivery of an application layer message, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

receiving one or more data packets at a first network element;

determining a first application layer message that is collectively contained in one or more payload portions of the one or more data packets, wherein the first application layer message originated at a source application;

determining a message identifier that is contained in the first application layer message;

determining whether a message identifier queue contains the message identifier; and

in response to determining that the message identifier queue does not contain the message identifier, storing the first application layer message in an application layer message queue as well as storing the message identifier into the message identifier queue atomically, and sending towards the source application, a second application layer (ACK) message that indicates the message identifier.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the message identifier queue does not contain the message identifier, storing the message identifier in the message identifier queue, together with the storing of the first application message in the application layer message queue atomically.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the message identifier queue contains the message identifier, sending the second application layer (ACK) message toward the source application without storing the first application layer message in the application layer message queue.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message identifier was added to the first application layer message by a first network element that is separate from both the second network element and a device that hosts the source application.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more data packets comprises intercepting the one or more data packets at the first network element, and wherein the one or more data packets are destined for the destination application rather than the first network element.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network element is a network switch or router.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing reliable delivery of an application layer message, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving one or more data packets at a first network element;

determining a first application layer message that is collectively contained in one or more payload portions of the one or more data packets, wherein the first application layer message originated at a source application;

determining a message identifier that is contained in the first application layer message;

determining whether a message identifier queue contains the message identifier; and

in response to determining that the message identifier queue does not contain the message identifier, storing the first application layer message in an application layer message queue as well as storing the message identifier into the message identifier queue atomically, and sending, towards the source application, a second application layer message (ACK) that indicates the message identifier.

13. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the steps further comprise:

in response to determining that the message identifier queue does not contain the message identifier, storing the message identifier in the message identifier queue, together with the storing of the first application message in the application layer message queue atomically

14. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the steps further comprise:

in response to determining that the message identifier queue contains the message identifier, sending the second application layer (ACK) message toward the source application without storing the first application layer message in the application layer message queue.

15. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the message identifier was added to the first application layer message by a first network element that is separate from both the second network element and a device that hosts the source application.

16. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein receiving the one or more data packets comprises intercepting the one or more data packets at the first network element, and wherein the one or more data packets are destined for the destination application rather than the first network element.

17. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein the network element is a network switch or router.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. A network element for providing reliable delivery of an application layer message, the network element comprising:

means for receiving one or more data packets at a first network element;

means for determining a first application layer message that is collectively contained in one or more payload portions of the one or more data packets, wherein the first application layer message originated at a source application;

means for determining a message identifier that is contained in the first application layer message;

means for determining whether a message identifier queue contains the message identifier; and

means for storing, in response to determining that the message identifier queue does not contain the message identifier, the first application layer message in an application layer message queue from which a destination application can retrieve the first application layer message, and sending, toward the source application, a ACK message that indicates the message identifier.

24. (canceled)

25. An apparatus for providing reliable delivery of an application layer message, comprising:

a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;

a processor;

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving one or more data packets;

determining a first application layer message that is collectively contained in one or more payload portions of the one or more data packets, wherein the first application layer message originated at a source application;

determining a message identifier that is contained in the first application layer message;

determining whether a message identifier queue contains the message identifier; and

in response to determining that the message identifier queue does not contain the message identifier, storing the first application layer message in an application layer message queue from which a destination application can retrieve the first application layer message, and sending, toward the source application, a second application layer message that indicates the message identifier.

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)