US 7,024,481 B2 · Method and framework for processing network communication protocol timers

Abstract

A new communications connection timer management framework for handling network communications protocol timers is disclosed. The timer management framework separates transmission control blocks (TCBs) having scheduled actions from the set of all TCBs maintained by a server. The TCBs having scheduled actions are referenced by a time-space partitioned data structure having time-slots corresponding to a current protocol timer “tick” value. The active TCBs are placed within particular ones of the time-space partitions based upon their expiration times. During each timer check sequence (e.g., once every 100 millisecond timer tick for TCP protocol timers), the timer management framework accesses a partition associated with a current timer value and checks the TCBs referenced within the current partition.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A communications timer management framework for handling network communications protocol action scheduling timers within connection status structures maintained for simultaneous network connections support by a server and wherein each connection status structure supports a plurality of timers associated with a connection, the framework comprising:

an active connections timer structure comprising a set of references associating the active connection timer structure with ones of the set of connection status structures;
a scheduled action handler that:
receives notification of an action scheduled on a connection, and
adds, in the active connections timer structure, a reference associating the active connections timer structure with a connection status structure corresponding to the connection and supporting a plurality of timers associated with the connection in response to determining that the connection status structure is not currently referenced on the active connections timer structure.

1 more element

A method for handling network communications protocol action scheduling timers within connection status structures maintained for simultaneous network connections supported by a server, wherein each connection status structure supports a plurality of timers associated with a connection and the server includes an active connections timer structure comprising a set of references associating the active connection timer structure with ones of the set of connection status structures, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving notification of an action scheduled on a connection;
and
adding, in the active connections timer structure, a reference associating the active connection timer structure with a connection status structure supporting a plurality of timers corresponding to the connection in response to determining that the connection status structure is not currently referenced on the active connections timer structure.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for facilitating handling network communications protocol action scheduling timers within connection status structures maintained for simultaneous network connections supported by a server, wherein each connection status structure supports a plurality of timers associated with a connection and the server includes an active connections timer structure comprising a set of references associating the active connection timer structure with ones of the set of connection status structures, the computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions facilitating performing the steps of:

receiving notification of an action scheduled on a connection;
and
adding, in the active connections timer structure, a reference associating the active connection timer structure with a connection status structure supporting a plurality of timers corresponding to the connection in response to determining that the connection status structure is not currently referenced on the active connections timer structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and framework for processing network communication protocol timers

Life of this patent

Method and framework for processing network communication protocol timers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33