Stateful switching between reliable transport modules for communicating with an external peer without losing the transport layer connection

A method performed by a device for communicating information with a peer transport application external to the device, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet from the peer transport application;
• providing individual copies of the packet to both a primary reliable transport protocol module and a standby reliable transport protocol module without routing either copy through the other of said reliable transport protocol module;
• in response to receiving one of said copies of the packet, the standby reliable transport protocol module:
• (a) communicating an indication of said receipt by the standby reliable transport protocol module to the primary reliable transport protocol module, and (b) providing information from said copy of the packet to a standby application;
• and
• in response to receiving the indication of said receipt by the standby reliable transport protocol module and having received one of said copies of the packet, the primary reliable transport protocol module:
• (a) sending an acknowledgement message corresponding to the packet to the peer transport application via the standby reliable transport protocol module, and (b) providing information from said copy of the packet to a primary application.

An apparatus configured to communicate information with a peer transport application external to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• means for providing individual copies of the packet to both a primary reliable transport protocol module and a standby reliable transport protocol module without routing either copy through the other of said reliable transport protocol module;
• the standby reliable transport protocol module including (a) means for communicating an indication of said receipt by the standby reliable transport protocol module to the primary reliable transport protocol module, and (b) means for providing information from said copy of the packet to a standby application;
• and
• the primary reliable transport protocol module including (a) means for sending an acknowledgement message corresponding to the packet to the peer transport application via the standby reliable transport protocol module, and (b) means for providing information from said copy of the packet to a primary application.