Offloaded Neighbor Cache Synchronization via Reachability Delta
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Solution Overview
Problem
The synchronization of network neighbor cache entry state between a host networking stack and an offload target is inefficient, leading to improper invalidation of neighbor cache entries due to lack of coordination between the host and offload target, especially when some connections are offloaded to a peripheral device.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining a host reachability delta and querying the offload target for a device reachability delta to maintain the neighbor reachability state distributively, ensuring seamless support for offloaded connections by updating the neighbor cache entry state based on the received deltas and synchronizing it between the host and offload target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the protocol stack is offloaded to the offload target, then processing efficiency is improved, but synchronization between host and offload target deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the host stack queries the offload target for updated neighbor reachability status and reachability delta values. The offload target responds with current state information, allowing the host to synchronize its neighbor cache entries with the offloaded protocol state, thus maintaining synchronization accuracy despite the distributed processing architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing reachability delta tracking before and during the offloading process. The host stack monitors its own reachability status and compares it with the offload target's reachability delta to determine when synchronization is needed, proactively maintaining consistency before inconsistencies cause problems
2Adaptability or versatility
If neighbor cache entry state is maintained separately at host and offload target, then system scalability is improved, but state consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the neighbor cache entry state management between the host stack and offload target, with each maintaining its own copy of the neighbor reachability state. The host stack maintains state for connections not offloaded, while the offload target maintains state for offloaded connections, allowing the system to scale by distributing state management across multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The host stack uses feedback queries to the offload target to retrieve updated neighbor reachability information. The offload target responds with current reachability delta values and state information, enabling the host to update its local neighbor cache entries to match the offloaded state, thus maintaining consistency across distributed state copies
3Measurement precision
If reachability state is updated frequently, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reachability delta tracking where the system continuously monitors changes in reachability status but only performs full synchronization when necessary. The reachability delta acts as a dynamic threshold that triggers synchronization only when reachability changes occur, rather than updating state continuously, thus reducing processing overhead while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary reachability delta calculation and comparison before initiating full synchronization. By pre-computing the reachability delta values and comparing them against thresholds, the system determines in advance whether synchronization is needed, avoiding unnecessary processing overhead while ensuring accuracy when updates are required
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the synchronization of network neighbor reachability between a host networking stack and a peripheral device, which offloads one or more network protocols is provided. The network neighbor reachability represents the reachability of another computer on the network. This invention enables conventional neighbor reachability to be extended to seamlessly support some network connections to a specific remote host to be offloaded to a peripheral device, while other network connections are not.