Method and apparatus for acknowledging TCP data packets

A method for acknowledging data packets in a data communication network including a network access unit for coupling one or more computer devices to the network, comprising the steps of:

• when a new packet is received by the network access unit from one of said computer devices, placing the new packet in an outbound queue in the network access unit;
• when the new packet contains an acknowledgment, identifying previous packets in the outbound queue that have the same source and destination addresses as the new packet;
• discarding previous acknowledgment packets in the outbound queue which have been identified as having the same source and destination addresses as the new packet;
• and
• transmitting packets from the outbound queue in the network access unit;
• wherein the step of discarding includes finding a preceding packet in said outbound queue with the same source and destination addresses as the new packet and merging the new packet into the preceding packet if the preceding packet is a data-carrying packet.

A network access for coupling one or more computer devices to a data communication network,comprising:

• means responsive to receipt of a new packet from one of said computer devices for placing the new packet in an outbound queue;
• means responsive to the new packet containing an acknowledgment for identifying previous packets in the outbound queue that have the same source and destination addresses as the new packet;
• means for discarding previous acknowledgment packets in the outbound queue which have been identified as having the same source and destination addresses as the new packet;
• and
• means for transmitting packets from the outbound queue;
• wherein said means for discarding includes means for discarding acknowledgment packets only when a number of packets in said outbound queue exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A network access unit for coupling one or more computer devices to a data communication network, comprising:

• means responsive to receipt of a new packet from one of said computer devices for placing the new packet in an outbound queue;
• means responsive to the new packet containing an acknowledgment for identifying previous packets in the outbound queue that have the same source and destination addresses as the new packet;
• means for discarding previous acknowledgment packets in the outbound queue which have been identified as having the same source and destination addresses as the new packet;
• and
• means for transmitting packets from the outbound queue;
• wherein said means for discarding includes means for finding a preceding packet in said outbound queue with the same source and destination addresses as the new packet and merging the new packet into the preceding packet if the preceding packet is a data-carrying packet.