Method and system for transmit scheduling for multi-layer network interface controller (NIC) operation

A method for transmitting data from a NIC, the method comprising:

• tracking a plurality of active data connections of a plurality of types on the NIC, wherein each of said plurality of active data connections comprises at least one TX buffer indicator arranged in a plurality of priority lists of connections, wherein each of said plurality of priority lists is generated based on said particular connection priority characteristic and said particular connection type, and wherein each of said plurality of TX buffer indicators in a particular priority list identifies transmit-ready data which is located externally to the NIC, and said identified transmit-ready data is associated with the same connection priority characteristic and the same connection type;
• selecting one or more of said plurality of active data connections for retrieving said identified transmit-ready data into the NIC based on said selected one or more of said plurality of TX buffer indicators;
• and
• processing said selected one or more of said plurality of active data connections in at least one transmission processing block, wherein said at least one transmission processing block is capable of handling the plurality of active data connections for generation of at least one transmit data stream from said identified transmit-ready data for transmission by the NIC, wherein said at least a portion of said identified transmit-ready data has not been previously received by said NIC prior to said transmission.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for transmitting data for network interface controller (NIC) applications, the at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform steps comprising:

• collecting by the NIC, based on a particular connection priority characteristic and a particular connection type, a plurality of transmit (TX) buffer indicators into a plurality of priority lists of connections, wherein each of said plurality of priority lists is generated based on a particular connection priority characteristic and a particular connection type, and wherein each of said plurality of TX buffer indicators in a particular priority list identifies transmit-ready data which is located externally to the NIC, and said identified transmit-ready data is associated with the same connection priority characteristic and the same connection type;
• selecting one or more of said plurality of TX buffer indicators;
• retrieving said identified transmit-ready data into the NIC based on said selected one or more of said plurality of TX buffer indicators;
• and
• transmitting at least a portion of said identified transmit-ready data, wherein said at least a portion of said identified transmit-ready data has not been previously received by said NIC prior to said transmission.

A system for transmitting data for network interface controller (N IC) applications, comprising:

• at least one processor that collects, based on a particular connection priority characteristic and a particular connection type, a plurality of transmit (TX) buffer indicators into a plurality of priority lists of connections, wherein each of said plurality of priority lists is generated based on a particular connection priority characteristic and a particular connection type, and wherein each of said plurality of TX buffer indicators in a particular priority list identifies transmit-ready data which is located external to the NIC, and said identified transmit-ready data is associated with the same connection priority characteristic and the same connection type;
• the at least one processor selects one or more of said plurality of TX buffer indicators;
• the at least one processor retrieves said identified transmit-ready data into the NIC based on said selected one or more of said plurality of TX buffer indicators;
• and
• the at least one processor transmits at least a portion of the identified transmit-ready data, wherein said at least a portion of said identified transmit-ready data has not been previously received by said NIC prior to said transmission.