System and method for running multiple incompatible network protocol stacks
First Claim
1. A method for running multiple protocol stacks implementing the same protocol on a network client having a generic interface which is capable of receiving incoming data packets destined for applications running on the client and presenting the data packets to multiple protocol stacks for consumption, comprising the steps of:
- generating and maintaining a unique identifier for each application that is associated with the multiple protocol stacks of the same type;
prescanning the incoming data packets received by the generic interface to determine if the incoming data packets contain unique identifiers of any of the applications;
providing the incoming data packets to the applications associated with the prescanned unique identifiers.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for operating a network client machine to simultaneously utilize two protocol stacks which implement the same protocol. The system and method routes incoming packets of information into the appropriate protocol stack by prescanning the incoming packet and comparing a portion of the packet with a table in memory of sockets used for one of the two stacks. If a match exists with any entry in the table, the system and method routes the packet to the appropriate stack. If no match is found between the incoming packet and the table, the packet may then be offered to the second protocol stack. The unique socket numbers are selected by one of the protocol stacks while both stacks maintain a table of active sockets.
232 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for running multiple protocol stacks implementing the same protocol on a network client having a generic interface which is capable of receiving incoming data packets destined for applications running on the client and presenting the data packets to multiple protocol stacks for consumption, comprising the steps of:
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generating and maintaining a unique identifier for each application that is associated with the multiple protocol stacks of the same type; prescanning the incoming data packets received by the generic interface to determine if the incoming data packets contain unique identifiers of any of the applications; providing the incoming data packets to the applications associated with the prescanned unique identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for running first and second protocol stacks which are incompatible with each other on a network client having a generic interface which is capable of receiving incoming data packets destined for applications running on the client and presenting the data packets to multiple compatible protocol stacks for consumption, comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a primary table of socket numbers for each application that is associated with the incompatible protocol stacks; generating unique socket numbers for subsequent applications which request to be associated with the incompatible protocol stacks; maintaining a second table of socket numbers for each application associated with the second incompatible protocol stack; referencing the second table to determine if the socket numbers of the incoming data packets are associated with the second incompatible protocol stack; and providing the incoming data packets to the applications associated with the second incompatible protocol whose socket numbers match the socket numbers of incoming data packets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a network environment wherein nodes on the network communicate through network interface hardware by sending and receiving data packets on the network interface hardware from multiple protocol stacks, a network driver capable of handling incoming data packets from protocol stacks implementing the same protocol comprising:
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a socket manager for generating and maintaining a unique identifier for each application that is associated with the multiple protocol stacks of the same type; a prescan module for prescanning and analyzing incoming data packets received by the network interface hardware to determine if the incoming data packets contain unique identifiers associated with any of the applications associated with protocol stacks of the same type; a stack manager for routing an incoming data packet through the appropriate protocol stack to the application associated with the prescanned unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification