System and method for handling frames in multiple stack environments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for processing incoming frames in a multiple stack environment, the system comprising:
- a non-offload protocol stack adapted to process at least a first connection protocol layer for incoming frames received from a network interface card; and
an offload protocol stack coupled to the non-offload protocol stack and adapted to process at least the first connection protocol layer for the incoming frames, at least a portion of the offload protocol stack implemented in hardware,wherein, prior to offloading, the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack comprises one or more partially processed incoming frames, andwherein, during offloading, the one or more partially processed incoming frames are sent from the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack to the first connection protocol layer of the offload protocol stack, via a first catch-up interface dedicated exclusively to the first connection protocol layer, to complete processing in the offload protocol stack.
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Abstract
Systems and methods that handle frames in multiple stack environments are provided. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a non-offload protocol stack and an offload protocol stack, the offload protocol stack being coupled to the non-offload protocol stack. The non-offload protocol stack may include, for example, one or more partially processed frames. The one or more partially processed frames may be sent to the offload protocol stack to complete processing in the offload protocol stack.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A system for processing incoming frames in a multiple stack environment, the system comprising:
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a non-offload protocol stack adapted to process at least a first connection protocol layer for incoming frames received from a network interface card; and an offload protocol stack coupled to the non-offload protocol stack and adapted to process at least the first connection protocol layer for the incoming frames, at least a portion of the offload protocol stack implemented in hardware, wherein, prior to offloading, the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack comprises one or more partially processed incoming frames, and wherein, during offloading, the one or more partially processed incoming frames are sent from the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack to the first connection protocol layer of the offload protocol stack, via a first catch-up interface dedicated exclusively to the first connection protocol layer, to complete processing in the offload protocol stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for processing incoming frames in a multiple stack environment, comprising:
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a host that runs a software portion of a non-offload protocol stack, the software portion adapted to process at least a first connection protocol layer for incoming frames received from a network interface card; and an offload engine coupled to the host and comprising a hardware portion of an offload protocol stack, the hardware portion adapted to process at least the first connection protocol layer for the incoming frames; wherein, prior to offloading, the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack comprises one or more partially processed incoming frames for processing in accordance with the first connection protocol layer, and wherein, during offloading, the one or more partially processed incoming frames are sent from the first connection protocol layer of the host to the first connection protocol layer of the offload engine, via a first catch-up interface dedicated exclusively to the first connection protocol layer, for processing in accordance with the first connection protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for handling frames in a multiple stack environment, comprising:
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a first layered processing system comprising a first connection protocol layer; and a second layered processing system coupled to the first layered processing system, the second layered processing system comprising a first connection protocol layer corresponding to the first connection protocol layer of the first layered processing system, at least a portion of the first connection protocol layer of the second layered processing system implemented in hardware, wherein incoming frames of a particular connection received from a network interface card awaiting processing in the first connection protocol layer of the first layered processing system are moved to the first connection protocol layer of the second layered processing system via a first catch-up interface dedicated exclusively to the first connection protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for processing incoming frames in a multiple stack environment comprising a non-offload protocol stack adapted to process incoming frames in accordance with a first connection protocol layer and an offload protocol stack adapted to process incoming frames in accordance with the first connection protocol layer, at least a portion of the offload protocol stack implemented in hardware, the method comprising:
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completing an offload of a connection from the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack to the first connection protocol layer of the offload protocol stack; and sending a partially processed incoming frame, which was received from a network interface card and partially processed by the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack, from the first connection protocol layer of the non-offload protocol stack to the first connection protocol layer of the offload protocol stack, via a first catch-up interface dedicated exclusively to the first connection protocol layer, to complete processing of the partially processed incoming frame by the offload protocol stack in accordance with the first connection protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification