Method and system for message transfer session management

• US 6,205,498 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Arnon, Yoel, Habusha, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US09/053,415
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 710/29, 710/15, 709/221, 709/228, 379/202, 379/229, 340/825.5, 714/749, 714/708
• US Class Current: 710/29
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/193 at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/26 using explicit feedback to the source, e.g. choke packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/267 sent by the destination endpoint network streaming of media packets with control of the source by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/27 Evaluation or update of window size, e.g. using information derived from acknowledged [ACK] packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/35 by embedding flow control information in regular packets, e.g. piggybacking

Abstract

A method and system for managing the transfer of message packets between first and second nodes in a message queuing system utilizes a session acknowledgment protocol to coordinate the two-way flow of packet transmission. In a session initiation phase, each node specifies a session acknowledgment timeout period and a transmission window size for transmission of message packets thereto. During the session, the first node transmits multiple message packets up to the window size set by the second node and stops to wait for a session acknowledgment from the second computer. The session acknowledgment may piggyback on a message packet sent to the first node. A window-size field in the session acknowledgment allows the receiving node to dynamically adjust the incoming data flow.

Claims

1. A method of managing a message transfer session between first and second nodes in a message queuing system, comprising the steps of:

specifying by the first node to the second node a first acknowledgment timeout period for the second node to acknowledge receipt of packets sent by the first node and a first window size for message transfer from the second node to the first node;

returning by the second node to the first node a second acknowledgment timeout period for the first node to acknowledge receipt of packets sent by the second node and a second window size for message transfer from the first node to the second node;

transmitting from the first node to the second node multiple message packets up to the second window size;

sending a session acknowledgment from the second node to the first node indicating whether the multiple message packets from the first node are received by the second node;

wherein the session acknowledgment includes a window size field for specifying a new window size for message transfer to the second node to dynamically adjust a maximum number of message packets allowed to be transferred to the second node based on resources available to the second node.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of sending includes sending the session acknowledgment upon expiration of the first acknowledgment timeout period specified by the first node.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of sending the session acknowledgment includes attaching the session acknowledgment to a message packet and transmitting at least the message packet from the second node to the first node, thereby allowing the second node to transmit message packets to the first node during the session without collision with transmission from the first node.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the multiple message packets transmitted from the first node to the second node include a persistent message packet, and the session acknowledgment includes data indicating a store/forward status of the persistent message packet.

5. A method as in claim 1, further including the step of sending an initiation packet from the first node to the second node to initiate the session for message transfer, the initiation packet including a time stamp for determining a round-trip packet transfer time between the first and second nodes.

6. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for transferring messages in a session between first and second nodes in a message queuing system, comprising:

specifying by the first node to the second node a first acknowledgment timeout period for the second node to acknowledge receipt of packets sent by the first node and a first window size for message transfer from the second node to the first node;

returning by the second node to the first node a second acknowledgment timeout period for the first node to acknowledge receipt of packets sent by the second node and a second window size for message transfer from the first node to the second node;

transmitting from the first node to the second node multiple message packets up to the second window size;

sending a session acknowledgment from the second node to the first node indicating whether the multiple message packets from the first node are received by the second node;

wherein the session acknowledgment includes a window size field for specifying a new window size for message transfer to the second node to dynamically adjust a maximum number of message packets allowed to be transferred to the second node based on resources available to the second node.

7. A computer-readable medium as in claim 6, wherein the step of sending the session acknowledgment includes attaching the session acknowledgment to a message packet and transmitting at least the message packet from the second node to the first node, thereby allowing the second node to transmit message packets to the first node during the session without collision with transmission from the first mode.

8. A computer-readable medium as in claim 6, wherein the multiple message packets transmitted from the first node to the second node include a persistent message packet, and the session acknowledgment includes data indicating a store/forward status of the persistent message packet.

9. A system for managing a message transfer session between first and second nodes in a message route in a message queuing system, comprising:

a first message queue (MQ) server on the first node and a second MQ server on the second node for handling transfer of message packets between the two nodes, the first and second MQ servers being programmed to exchange a first acknowledgment timeout period for the second node to acknowledge receipt of packets sent by the first node and a first window size for message transfer from the second node to the first node and a second acknowledgment timeout period for the first node to acknowledge receipt of packets sent by the second node and a second window size for message transfer from the first node to the second node, the first MQ server during the session transmitting to the second MQ server multiple message packets up to the second window size;

the second MQ server sending a session acknowledgment to the first MQ server for receipt of the multiple message packets;

wherein the session acknowledgment includes a window size field for specifying a new window size for message transfer to the second node to dynamically adjust a maximum number of message packets allowed to be transferred to the second node based on resources available to the second node.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the session acknowledgment is attached to a message packet transmitted from the second node to the first node.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein the multiple message packets include a persistent message packet, and the session acknowledgment includes data indicating a store/forward status of the persistent message packet.

12. A method of communication between a first node and a second node in a message queuing system during a message transfer session between the first node and second node, comprising the steps of:

initiating a message transfer session by sending an establish-connection packet from the first node to the second node;

responding by the second node to the establish-connection packet from the first node by returning response packet to the first node indicating an agreement to establish a session;

sending, by the first node after receiving the response packet, to the second node a first communication parameter packet which includes a first receipt acknowledgment timeout period for the second node to acknowledge receipt of packets transmitted from the first node, and a first window size for packets transmitted from the second node;

returning by the second node to the first node a second communication parameter packet which includes a second receipt acknowledgment timeout period for the first node to acknowledge receipt of packets transmitted from the second node, and a second window size for packets transmitted from the first node to the second node;

transmitting from the first node to the second node message packets up to the second window size; and

acknowledging by the second node receipt of the message packets by sending a session acknowledgment which includes a sync acknowledgment field containing data representing a number of packets received in the transmission;

wherein the session acknowledgment includes a window size field which permits the second node to specify a new window size for message packet transmission to the second node to dynamically adjust a maximum number of message packets allowed to be transferred to the second node based on resources available to the second node.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 12.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein the first communication packet includes a persistent message storage acknowledgment timeout period for the second node to acknowledge storage of persistent messages received from the first node, and wherein the session acknowledgment includes a storage acknowledgment field containing data representing a storage state of persistent message packets received from the first node.

15. A method as in claim 12, wherein the establish-connection packet includes a time stamp for measuring a round trip time for message communication between the first and second nodes.

16. A method as in claim 12, wherein the session acknowledgment is contained in a session acknowledgment packet.

17. A method as in claim 12, wherein the session acknowledgment is contained in a message packet transmitted from the second node to the first node.