TCP/IP communications protocol

A network router, comprising:

• a router means for routing datagrams to another router, each datagram including a data portion and a header portion;
• a memory means for storing the datagrams;
• a datagram buffer program, residing within said router, for receiving and storing datagrams within said memory means for later transfer to a destination indicated in the header portion of each datagram;
• and
• a datagram notification interception program, residing within said router, comprising:
• means for receiving a notification packet including a message portion and a header portion;
• means for modifying the message portion of the notification packet to reflect available space within said memory means of the router;
• and
• means for routing the notification packet to a destination as indicted in the header portion of the notification.

A network router, comprising:

• a router means for routing datagrams, each datagram including a data portion and a header portion;
• a memory means for storing the datagrams;
• a datagram buffer program, residing within said router, for receiving and storing datagrams within said memory means for later transfer to a destination indicated in the header portion of each datagram;
• a partial retransmission program, residing within said router, comprising:
• means for receiving request to retransmit a portion of a datagram;
• means for removing requested portion of requested datagram, and
• means for retransmitting requested portion of requested datagram.

A method for routing datagrams, comprising the steps of:

• receiving datagrams in a router coupled to a source node and a destination node through a network,
• storing datagrams within the router, for transfer at a later time, if the destination node cannot receive additional datagrams,
• receiving notification that destination node has available space for storing datagrams, and
• transmitting stored datagram toward the destination node.

A method for routing datagrams, comprising the steps of:

• receiving datagrams in a router coupled to a source node and a destination node through a network,
• storing datagrams within the router, for transfer at a later time, if the destination node cannot receive additional datagrams,
• intercepting a notification from the destination which is bound for source node;
• determining if notification is requesting source transmission of datagrams to be ceased due to lack of space in the destination node in which to store additional datagrams,
• manipulating notification packet to produce a manipulated notification packet indicating to the source node that space is available in the destination node, thereby causing the source node to continue transmission, and
• storing, in the router, datagrams transmitted from the source node in response to the manipulated notification packet until the destination node has available space.

A method for routing datagrams, comprising the steps of:

• receiving datagrams in a router coupled to a source node and a destination node through a network,
• storing datagrams within the router, for transfer at a later time, if the destination node cannot receive additional datagrams,
• determining if original received datagram has erroneous data;
• determining which section of original received datagram has erroneous data;
• transmitting a request to retransmit only the portion of the datagram that was deemed erroneous in the original received datagram;
• receiving retransmission of requested data, and
• combining error free portion of original received datagram with requested retransmitted data.

A method for routing datagrams, comprising the steps of:

• receiving datagrams in a router coupled to a source node and a destination node through a network,
• storing datagrams within the router, for transfer at a later time, if the destination node cannot receive additional datagrams,
• receiving request to retransmit a portion of a datagram;
• removing requested portion of requested datagram, and
• retransmitting requested portion of requested datagram.