Network communication with path MTU size discovery
First Claim
1. A method for network communication between a first host and a second host connected by a network, the method comprising:
- a) sending a plurality of test packets of varying transmission unit (TU) size from the first host to the second host, wherein a “
do not fragment”
(DF) flag for the test packets is not set;
b) determining whether one or more of the test packets were received by the second host;
c) determining whether a network path between the first and second hosts is bit-rate limited or packet rate limited based on one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host;
c′
) calculating an estimated path MTU size for the network path between the first and second hosts based on the one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host, wherein the path MTU size is determined differently if the network path is bit-rate limited than if the network path is packet rate limited; and
d) sending one or more message packets of a size less than or equal to the estimated path MTU size over the network path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for network communication and an apparatus for discovery of a maximum transmission unit (MTU) size in a path between two nodes of a network are disclosed. A plurality of test packets of varying transmission unit (TU) size may be sent from the first host to the second host. A “do not fragment” (DF) flag for the test packets is not set. It is determined whether one or more of the test packets were received by the second host. An estimated path MTU for a network path between the first and second hosts size may then be calculated based on one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host. Once the estimated Path MTU size has been determined, message packets of a size less than or equal to the Path MTU size may be sent over the network path.
270 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for network communication between a first host and a second host connected by a network, the method comprising:
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a) sending a plurality of test packets of varying transmission unit (TU) size from the first host to the second host, wherein a “
do not fragment”
(DF) flag for the test packets is not set;b) determining whether one or more of the test packets were received by the second host; c) determining whether a network path between the first and second hosts is bit-rate limited or packet rate limited based on one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host; c′
) calculating an estimated path MTU size for the network path between the first and second hosts based on the one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host, wherein the path MTU size is determined differently if the network path is bit-rate limited than if the network path is packet rate limited; andd) sending one or more message packets of a size less than or equal to the estimated path MTU size over the network path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for discovery of a maximum transmission unit (MTU) size in a path between two nodes of a network, comprising:
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a first host having a computer with a computer readable program stored in a memory the wherein the program is configured to implement a method for discovery of a path MTU size between the two nodes, the method comprising; sending a plurality of test packets of varying transmission unit (TU) size from the first host to the second host; determining whether one or more of the test packets were received by the second host; determining whether a network path between the first and second hosts is bit-rate limited or packet rate limited based on one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host; and calculating an estimated path MTU size for a network path between the first and second hosts based on the one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host, wherein the path MTU size is determined differently if the network path is bit-rate limited than if the network path is packet rate limited. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer readable program configured to implement a method for discovery of a maximum transmission unit (MTU) size in a path between a first host and a second host connected by a network, the computer readable program comprising:
- a) an instruction that when executed causes the first host to send a plurality of test packets of varying transmission unit (TU) size from the first host to the second host;
b) an instruction that when executed causes the first host to determine whether one or more of the test packets were received by the second host b′
) an instruction, that when executed causes the first host to determine whether a network path between the first and second hosts is bit-rate limited or packet rate limited based on one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host; and
c) an instruction that when executed causes the first host to calculate an estimated path MTU size for a network path between the first and second hosts based on the one or more patterns of receipt of the test packets by the second host, wherein the path MTU size is determined differently if the network path is bit-rate limited than if the network path is packet rate limited.
- a) an instruction that when executed causes the first host to send a plurality of test packets of varying transmission unit (TU) size from the first host to the second host;
Specification