Network interface sharing methods and apparatuses that support kernel mode data traffic and user mode data traffic

• US 7,174,448 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Glenn, Morris, Larry, Tjong, Soemin
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US11/260,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 711/118, 711/123, 324/763, 324/765, 714/42, 714/48, 714/724
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided that allow kernel mode data traffic and user mode data traffic to share a common network communication port. One apparatus includes user mode logic, kernel mode logic, and kernel mode to user mode interface logic. The interface logic is configured to receive data packets and selectively distribute the data packet to either the user mode or kernel mode logic. The interface logic includes “virtual” bridge logic and “virtual” miniport logic. The bridge logic determines if a received data packet is a user mode or kernel mode data packet. If it is a kernel mode data packet, then the bridge logic provides the data packet to the kernel mode logic. If it is a user mode data packet, then the bridge logic stores the data packet in memory for subsequent use by the user mode logic. The bridge logic also receives outgoing kernel mode data packets from the kernel mode logic and provides them to a network communication port, and retrieves outgoing user mode data packets from memory and provides them to the same network communication port. The miniport logic provides an interface between the memory accessed by the bridge logic and user mode logic. The miniport logic accepts outgoing user mode data packets and stores them in the memory for subsequent access by the bridge logic, and retrieves incoming user mode data packets stored in memory by the bridge logic.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

user mode logic;

kernel mode logic; and

kernel mode to user mode interface logic;

is configured to receive at least one data packet over a shared communication port and selectively distribute said data packet to either said user mode logic or said kernel mode logic;

includes bridge logic configured to individually determine if said received data packet is a user mode data packet that is to be selectively distributed to said user mode logic or a kernel mode data packet to be selectively distributed to said kernel mode logic and store a plurality of user mode data packets in memory operatively coupled to said bridge logic; and

includes miniport logic operatively coupled to said bridge logic and said memory and configured to selectively retrieve at least one of said plurality of user mode data packets stored in said memory and provide said at least one retrieved data packet to said user mode logic.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said bridge logic is configured to receive said outgoing kernel mode data packet from said kernel mode logic; and

said miniport logic is configured to receive said outgoing user mode data packet from said user mode logic and further configured to store a plurality of outgoing user mode data packets in said memory.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said miniport logic is configured to store said plurality of plurality of outgoing user mode data packets in said memory in a queued buffer configuration.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said user mode logic further includes:

network protocol logic operatively coupled to said miniport logic; and

application level logic operatively coupled to said network protocol logic.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bridge logic is further configured to selectively retrieve at least one of said plurality of outgoing user mode data packets stored in said memory.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a physical network communication port operatively coupled to said bridge logic and configurable to send both user mode data packets and kernel mode data packets to an external device; and

wherein, said bridge logic is configured to provide said outgoing kernel mode data packet and said retrieved outgoing user mode packet to said network communication port.

7. A method comprising:

providing at least one processing unit to selectively run user mode logic and kernel mode logic;

receiving at least one data packet through a shared communication port; and

while said processing unit is running said kernel mode logic, selectively handling said data packet for use with either said user mode logic or said kernel mode logic;

determining if said received data packet is a user mode data packet for use by said user mode logic or a kernel mode data packet for use by said kernel mode logic; and

storing received data packets determined to be user mode data packets in memory,

while said processing unit is running said user mode logic, selectively retrieving at least one stored user mode data packet from said memory, and

providing said at least one retrieved data packet to said user mode logic.

8. A method comprising:

providing at least one processing unit to selectively run user mode logic and kernel mode logic;

receiving at least one data packet through a shared communication port, wherein said shared communication port includes a physical network communication port operatively configurable to receive both user mode data packets and kernel mode data packets from an external device; and

while said processing unit is running said kernel mode logic, selectively handling said data packet for use with either said user mode logic or said kernel mode logic.