Distributed kernel operating system

• US 8,386,586 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited (Canada) (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Boyd, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/292,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709222-229, 709/206, 709/246, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

An improved distributed operating system over a network of computer systems is described. Existing distributed operating systems have transmission performance limitations dictated by their inability to (1) reliably handle transient communication failures and rapid node reboots, (2) provide a transmission protocol that adapts to link reliability, and (3) allow transmissions to occur over an arbitrary combinations of communication links. The systems and methods described herein solve these problems by providing a reliable node-to-node session protocol that offers high performance message delivery and multi-interface management and support. This is done by transmitting all data between two nodes of the operating system over a single connection that may dynamically exploit multiple interfaces between the nodes.

Claims

1. A method for managing transmission of data packets over multiple network links interconnecting a local node and a remote node, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between a local node and a remote node;

determining, with a media selection layer of a local network manager on the local node, a media selection preference indicating a policy for a transmission of one or more data packets to the remote node;

identifying, with the media selection layer, in accordance with the media selection preference, one or more network links for use in transmitting each of the one or more data packets; and

transmitting each of the one or more data packets to the remote node using the identified one or more network links.

2. The method of claim 1, where a pathname of a device on the remote node comprises the media selection preference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media selection preference comprises a loadbalance policy that allows the media selection layer to determine which two or more network links to utilize for the transmission of the one or more data packets.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying, with the media selection layer, in accordance with the media selection preference, a network link for use in transmitting each of the one or more data packets comprises:

identifying a network link that provides the fastest transmission of the data packet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media selection preference comprises a preferred policy that allows a user to specify one or more particular network links to utilize for the transmission of the one or more data packets.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identifying, with the media selection layer, in accordance with the media selection preference, one or more network links for use in transmitting the one or more data packets comprises:

identifying one or more network links specified by a user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process is available for transmission of the one or more data packets;

determining to utilize each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process is available; and

determining to utilize a network link other than each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when all of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process are not available.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining to utilize a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when all of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process are not available comprises:

identifying a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process that provides for the fastest transmission of the one or more data packets.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining to utilize a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when all of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process are not available comprises:

identifying a network link whose performance characteristics are similar to the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the media selection preference comprises an exclusive policy that only allows only network links specified by the user-level process to be utilized for the transmission of the one or more data packets.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for managing a transmission of a data packets over multiple network links interconnecting a local node and a remote node, the set of instructions to direct a processor to perform acts of:

establishing a connection between a local node and a remote node;

determining, with a media selection layer of a local network manager on the local node, a media selection preference indicating a policy for a transmission of one or more data packets to the remote node;

identifying, with the media selection layer, in accordance with the media selection preference, one or more network links for use in transmitting each of the one or more data packets; and

transmitting each of the one or more data packets to a remote node using the one or more identified network links;

wherein the media selection preference comprises at least one of a loadbalance policy, a preferred policy, or a exclusive policy;

wherein the loadbalance policy allows the media selection layer to determine one or more network links to utilize for the transmission of the one or more data packets;

wherein the preferred policy allows a user to specify one or more particular network links to utilize for the transmission of the one or more data packets; and

wherein the exclusive policy allows only one or more network links specified by the user-level process to be utilized for the transmission of the one or more data packets.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a pathname of a device on the remote node comprises the media selection preference.

13. A local network manager configured to manage a transmission of data packets over multiple network links interconnecting a local node and a remote node, the local network manager comprising:

a processor configured to operate as a media selection layer, the processor configured to;

establish a connection between a local node and a remote node;

determine a media selection preference indicating a policy for a transmission of one or more data packets;

identify, in accordance with the media selection preference, one or more network links for use in transmitting the one or more data packets; and

transmit each of the one or more data packets to the remote node using the identified one or more network links.

14. The local network manager of claim 13, wherein the media selection preference comprises a loadbalance policy that allows the media selection layer to determine which two or more network links to utilize for the transmission of the one or more data packets.

15. The local network manager of claim 13, wherein the media selection preference comprises a preferred policy that allows a user-level process to specify one or more particular network links to utilize for the transmission of the one or more data packets.

16. The local network manager of claim 15, wherein to identify, in accordance with the media selection preference, one or more network links for use in transmitting the one or more data packets, the processor is configured to:

identify one or more network links specified by the user-level processor for transmission of the one or more data packets.

17. The local network manager of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process is available for transmission of the one or more data packets;

determine to utilize each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when each of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process is available; and

determine to utilize a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when all of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process is not available.

18. The local network manager of claim 17, wherein determining to utilize a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when all of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process are not available comprises:

identifying a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process that provides for the fastest transmission of the one or more data packets.

19. The local network manager of claim 17, wherein determining to utilize a network link other than the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets when all of the one or more network links specified by the user-level process are not available comprises:

identifying a network link whose performance characteristics are similar to the one or more network links specified by the user-level process for transmission of the one or more data packets.

20. The local network manager of claim 13, wherein the media selection preference comprises an exclusive policy that only allows only network links specified by the user-level process to be utilized for the transmission of the one or more data packets.