Accelerated Sockets for Enhanced Ethernet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing socket technologies, particularly when used with TCP over semi-reliable local networks like enhanced Ethernet, face inefficiencies due to slow start and congestion avoidance algorithms, leading to unnecessary complexity and memory overhead, especially in scenarios requiring high bandwidth and frequent data transmission stops and starts.
Innovation Solution
The accelerated socket protocol redefines the PUSH bit to indicate the final data packet, allowing for automatic acknowledgement and synchronization of available receiving space, reducing hardware costs and software overhead by optimizing data transfer and acknowledgement processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP slow start and congestion avoidance algorithms are used over enhanced Ethernet, then network reliability is improved, but data transmission speed and bandwidth utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes TCP's slow start and congestion avoidance algorithms from the data transmission path over enhanced Ethernet. By eliminating these protocols that are designed for unreliable wide area networks, the system achieves full bandwidth utilization and high-speed data transfer while maintaining reliability through enhanced Ethernet's native congestion management capabilities.
2Reliability
If TCP out-of-order packet buffering is implemented, then data transmission reliability is improved, but NIC memory overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes TCP's out-of-order packet buffering mechanism from the system. Instead of buffering and reordering packets at the NIC level, the system leverages enhanced Ethernet's guaranteed in-order delivery and congestion management, eliminating the need for complex buffering structures and reducing NIC memory overhead significantly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard socket interfaces with TCP are used, then protocol compatibility is improved, but data transfer efficiency and bandwidth utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of socket interfaces by implementing accelerated sockets that operate without TCP's congestion control and slow start algorithms when running over enhanced Ethernet. This parameter change allows sockets to achieve line-rate data transfer efficiency while maintaining compatibility with standard socket APIs, enabling applications to benefit from high-speed performance without requiring protocol-level modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an improved method of using sockets in connection with TCP over certain local networks, such as the enhanced Ethernet. In particular, an accelerated socket protocol is provided to enhance data communications between different host computer systems connected to an enhanced Ethernet network. Under the accelerated socket protocol, a host computer, while sending a number of data packets, is able to indicate a particular data packet is a last ready data packet out of all packets ready to be sent by setting a PUSH bit in that particular data packet, which triggers an automatic acknowledgement message that confirms receipt of data from the receiver. In addition, while receiving data packets, the host computer can advertise an effective window that corresponds to the actually available receiving space in the host computer.