Transmitting packet from device after timeout in network communications utilizing virtual network connection

• US 9,350,794 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dispersive Holdings Incorporated (Dispersive Networks, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dispersive Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Twitchell, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrews, Hoyet H
• Application Number:
  US13/242,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20120020353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/17 Interaction among intermediate nodes, e.g. hop by hop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/06 Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of providing network communications includes spawning a virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided; using the virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device; setting a timer, the timer having a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than an average response time of the destination device; and, upon expiration of the timer, transmitting the packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device.

Claims

1. A method of providing network communications, comprising:

(a) detecting, at a device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device;

(b) spawning a virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided;

(c) determining application-specific information associated with the application;

(d) using the application-specific information, selecting, at the device, a first routing protocol from among a plurality of routing protocols for communicating data from the application using the virtual network connection;

(e) using the virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using the first routing protocol for communication to a destination device;

(f) determining an average response time of the destination device;

(g) setting a timer to have a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than the determined average response time of the destination device; and

(h) upon expiration of the timer, transmitting the packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device;

(i) wherein the application runs on the device outside of the virtual machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second node is different from the first node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol, and the second node is different from the first node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises transmitting the packet to the second node using the virtual network connection with the second routing protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual machine is created by a monitor in response to a controller that is configured to intercept messages sent to a network adapter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual machine encapsulates a single hardware network interface of the device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual machine encapsulates a plurality of hardware network interfaces of the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device includes a plurality of processing cores.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is a video game.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a personal computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a handheld mobile device.

13. A method of providing network communications, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting, at a device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device;

(b) spawning a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided;

(c) determining application-specific information associated with the application;

(d) using the application-specific information, selecting, at the device, a first routing protocol from among a plurality of routing protocols for communicating data from the application using the first virtual network connection;

(e) using the first virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using the first routing protocol for communication to a destination device;

(f) determining an average response time of the destination device;

(g) setting a timer to have a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than the determined average response time of the destination device;

(h) upon expiration of the timer, spawning a second virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a second virtual network connection is provided; and

(i) using the second virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device;

(j) wherein the application runs on the device outside of the first and second virtual machines.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol, and wherein the second node is different from the first node.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first virtual machine encapsulates a single hardware network interface of the device.

16. A device comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) one or more network adapters providing network capabilities;

(c) one or more computer readable media containing computer executable instructions configured to;

(i) detect, at the device, a request for a network connection from an application running on the device,

(ii) spawn a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the one or more network adapters of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided,

(iii) determine application-specific information associated with the application,

(iv) using the application-specific information, select, at the device, a first routing protocol from among a plurality of routing protocols for communicating data from the application using the first virtual network connection,

(v) using the first virtual network connection, transmit a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device,

(vi) determine an average response time of the destination device,

(vii) set a timer to have a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than the determined average response time of the destination device, and

(viii) upon expiration of the timer, transmit the packet to a second, different node using the first virtual network connection with a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device,

(ix) wherein the application runs on the device outside of the first virtual machine.