METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS
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Abstract
One embodiment of the invention includes a method of managing network communications in a network device. The network device includes software components and modules. Some of the components control the interaction between modules, while other components perform specific functions for associated modules. A module manager component controls the creation and destruction of modules as well as their interactions. A communications manager component manages network communications in the network device. The network communications is supported by creating a number of modules that are associated with components that implement different parts of a network protocol. As a result of the use of the modules, a component need not know which other components) it depends upon, nor need it know which other component(s) depend upon it. This allows components to be used together very easily in many different configurations. The modules also allow the same component to be used by multiple modules.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1-54. -54. (canceled)
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55. A method for communicating data between a plurality of components in a network communication device, each component of said plurality of components providing a set of functions for portions of a network protocol, said plurality of components including at least a first component, a second component, and a third component, said method comprising:
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generating a module for each component of said plurality of components, a first module corresponding to said first module component, a second module corresponding to said second component and a third module corresponding to said third component; receiving packets at said first component; splitting, by said first component, a load of said packets between said second component and said third component.
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Specification