System and method for packet bypass in a communication system

A method for packet bypass in a communications network, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of packets;
• determining whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet;
• communicating the non-bypass packets toward a communication link;
• and
• communicating a plurality of the bypass packets toward the communication link between communication of two of the non-bypass packets,
• wherein determining whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet comprises:
• determining a size of the packet;
• if the packet does not have a specified size, classifying the packet as a non-bypass packet, otherwise determining a protocol used to generate the packet;
• if the packet was not generated using a specified protocol, classifying the packet as a non-bypass packet, otherwise determining a content of the packet;
• and
• if the packet does not include at least a portion of a specified content, classifying the packet as a non-bypass packet, otherwise classifying the packet as a bypass packet.

A system for packet bypass in a communications network having an asymmetrical communications link with an upstream and downstream bandwidth with different sizes, comprising:

• at least one computer readable medium;
• and
• software encoded on the computer readable medium, the software operable when executed to:
• receive a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets;
• determine whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet;
• communicate the non-bypass packets upstream toward the asymmetrical a communication link;
• and
• communicate a plurality of the bypass packets upstream toward the asymmetrical communication link between communication of two of the non-bypass packets,
• wherein the software is operable to communicate up to a specified maximum number of bypass packets between communication of two non-bypass packets and wherein the maximum number is optimally selected to maximize the downstream bandwidth.

A system for packet bypass in a communications network having an asymmetrical communications link with an upstream and downstream bandwidth that are different sizes, comprising:

• a communications manager operable to receive a plurality Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets and to determine whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet;
• and
• a memory accessible to the communications manager and operable to receive bypass packets and non-bypass packets from the communications manager;
• wherein the communications manager is further operable to retrieve bypass packets and non-bypass packets from the memory and to communicate upstream toward the asymmetrical communication link a plurality of the bypass packets between communication of two of the non-bypass packets,
• wherein the downstream bandwidth is larger than the upstream bandwidth, and
• wherein the communications manager is operable to communicate up to a specified maximum number of bypass packets between communication of two non-bypass packets,
• wherein the communications manager is operable to determine whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet by determining a size of the packet.

A system for packet bypass in a communications network having an asymmetrical communications link with an upstream and downstream bandwidth that are different sizes, comprising:

• a communications manager operable to receive a plurality Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets and to determine whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet;
• and
• a memory accessible to the communications manager and operable to receive bypass packets and non-bypass packets from the communications manager;
• wherein the communications manager is further operable to retrieve bypass packets and non-bypass packets from the memory and to communicate upstream toward the asymmetrical communication link a plurality of the bypass packets between communication of two of the non-bypass packets,
• wherein the downstream bandwidth is larger than the upstream bandwidth, and
• wherein the communications manager is operable to communicate up to a specified maximum number of bypass packets between communication of two non-bypass packets,
• wherein the communications manager is operable to determine whether each packet is a bypass packet or a non-bypass packet by:
• determining a size of the packet;
• if the packet does not have a specified size, classifying the packet as a non-bypass packet, otherwise determining a protocol used to generate the packet;
• if the packet was not generated using a specified protocol, classifying the packet as a non-bypass packet otherwise determining a content of the packet;
• and
• if the packet does not include at least a portion of a specified content, classifying the packet as a non-bypass packet, otherwise classifying the packet as a bypass packet.