Data communications apparatus, method and computer program product implementing data communications protocol with efficient packing of datagrams

• US 6,493,764 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Coleman, Davin Morris, Beaven, Paul A, Fisk, Brian Phillip Ernest, Aldred, Barry Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US09/349,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/227, 709/230, 709/236, 709/232, 709/234, 709/203, 370/310, 370/346, 370/351-352, 370/392, 370/394, 370/389, 370/398, 370/409, 370/363, 370/465, 370/477, 703/26
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A data communications apparatus connected to a network through which datagrams flow from the data communications apparatus to at least one other data communications apparatus also connected to the network, the apparatus having: a means for receiving data which is to be transmitted over the network, such data being broken up into data records; and a means for packing the data records into datagrams for transmission over the network, including a means for assigning data records to datagrams; wherein the means for packing takes the data records out of sequential order when assigning data records to datagrams.

Claims

1. A data communications apparatus connected to a network through which datagrams flow from the data communications apparatus to at least one other data communications apparatus also connected to the network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving data which is to be transmitted over the network, such data being broken up into data records; and

means for packing the data records into datagrams for transmission over the network, including a means for assigning data records to datagrams;

wherein the means for packing takes the data records out of sequential order when assigning data records to datagrams.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for packing assigns, to a datagram presently being packed, the largest unassigned data record that will fit in the datagram.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for assigning considers only one datagram at a time when assigning data records to datagrams.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for assigning considers a plurality of datagrams at a time when assigning data records to datagrams.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the size of each data record must be less than or equal to the size of each datagram.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the size of a data record is larger than the size of a datagram.

7. A data communications method of operating a data communications apparatus connected to a network through which datagrams flow from the data communications apparatus to at least one other data communications apparatus also connected to the network, the method comprising steps of:

receiving data which is to be transmitted over the network, such data being broken up into data records; and

packing the data records into datagrams for transmission over the network, including assigning data records to datagrams;

wherein the packing step takes the data records out of sequential order when assigning data records to datagrams.

8. A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage medium for, when run on a computer, carrying out a data communications method of operating a data communications apparatus connected to a network through which datagrams flow from the data communications apparatus to at least one other data communications apparatus also connected to the network, the method comprising steps of:

receiving data which is to be transmitted over the network, such data being broken up into data records; and

packing the data records into datagrams for transmission over the network, including assigning data records to datagrams;

wherein the packing step takes the data records out of sequential order when assigning data records to datagrams.