Computer system, program product and method for dynamically optimizing a communication protocol for supporting more users
First Claim
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1. A method for processing frames between links of a network using protocol timers which expire on operating system ticks, the method comprising:
- when starting a protocol timer, determining an operating system tick corresponding to the expiration of the protocol timer;
determining an actual number of other protocol timers expiring on the same operating system tick and comparing the actual number to a timer limit number; and
if the actual number exceeds the timer limit number, setting the current protocol timer to expire on a different operating system tick subsequent to the operating system tick on which it is originally set to expire.
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Abstract
A computer system, program product and method enhances the operation of a communications protocol by monitoring timers associated with the protocol to determine the transmission requirements placed on a transmit queue. The number of frames to be enqueued at a particular system tick is dynamically modified to prevent queue overload. In one embodiment the expiration of timers is adjusted to prevent queue overload. In another embodiment, frame transmission at timer expiry is adjusted to prevent queue overload.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for processing frames between links of a network using protocol timers which expire on operating system ticks, the method comprising:
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when starting a protocol timer, determining an operating system tick corresponding to the expiration of the protocol timer; determining an actual number of other protocol timers expiring on the same operating system tick and comparing the actual number to a timer limit number; and if the actual number exceeds the timer limit number, setting the current protocol timer to expire on a different operating system tick subsequent to the operating system tick on which it is originally set to expire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for processing frames between links of a network using protocol timers which expire on operating system ticks, the method comprising:
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monitoring the expiration of a protocol timer and determining the corresponding operating system tick for the expiration; upon expiration of the protocol timer, checking the depth of a transmit queue; if the queue is not in a full state, processing frames associated with the protocol timer expiration on the corresponding operating system tick; and if the queue is in a full state, processing frames associated with the protocol timer expiration on a subsequent operating system tick. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system comprising:
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a data communications system operable for interfacing with a network and responsive to a protocol timer for processing frames over the network upon the expiration of the protocol timer on an operating system tick; and a processor, coupled to the communications system, the processor configured for monitoring the protocol timer to determine the operating system tick on which the protocol timer expires, the processor further configured to determine the actual number of other protocol timers expiring on the same operating system tick and, when said actual number of timers exceeds a timer limit number, setting the current protocol timer to expire on a different operating system tick subsequent to the original operating system tick on which it is originally set to expire. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer system comprising:
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a data communications system operable for interfacing with a network and responsive to a protocol timer for processing frames on the network upon the expiration of the protocol timer on an operating system tick; the data communications system including a transmit queue for receiving frames to be processed on the network upon the expiration of the protocol timer; a processor, coupled to the communications system, the processor configured for monitoring the expiration of the protocol timer and for determining the operating system tick on which the protocol timer expires; and the processor further configured for checking, upon protocol timer expiration, the depth of the transmit queue, and if the queue is not in a full state, processing the frames associated with the protocol timer on the corresponding operating system tick, but if the queue is in a full state, processing the frames associated with the protocol timer on a subsequent operating system tick. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A program product, comprising:
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(a) a program for interfacing with a communications system which establishes links between networked devices by utilizing protocol timers which expire on operating system ticks, the program configured to perform a method of managing the protocol timer expiries for supporting more links in the communications system, the method comprising; (1) when starting a protocol timer, determining an operating system tick corresponding to the expiration of the protocol timer; (2) determining an actual number of other protocol timers expiring on the same operating system tick and comparing the actual number to a timer limit number; (3) if the actual number exceeds the timer limit number, setting the current protocol timer to expire on a different operating system tick subsequent to the operating system tick on which it is originally set to expire; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.
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25. A program product, comprising:
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(a) a program for interfacing with a communications system which establishes links between networked devices by utilizing protocol timers which expire on operating system ticks, the program configured to perform a method of managing the protocol timer expiries for supporting more links in the communications system, the method comprising; (1) monitoring the expiration of a protocol timer and determining the corresponding operating system tick for the expiration; (2) upon expiration of the protocol timer, checking the depth of a transmit queue; (3) if the queue is not in a full state, processing frames associated with the protocol timer expiration on the corresponding operating system tick; and (4) if the queue is in a full state, processing the frames associated with the protocol timer expiration on a subsequent operating system tick; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.
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Specification