Packet deduplication with epochs

Abstract

Establish a process to identify non-idempotent packets of data communicated over a computing network between two nodes within an epoch to determine if a duplicate packet of data is received. The transmitter of the packet of data and the receiver of the packet of data establish an epoch where packets of data received within the epoch are considered packets that are to be processed, e.g., checked, if necessary if it is a duplicate packet. Packets received outside of the epoch can be processed, ignored, or buffered depending on the processes used by the two nodes. The time span of the epoch can be determined by the anticipated number of packets that will be received during the epoch and the available memory allocation to store unique signatures of the packets of data. The unique signatures can be a unique packet identifier or a combination of a packet type and identifier.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.