Parallel Protocol Stack Socket Allocation for Network Adapter Conflicts

The patent segments the socket resource by creating multiple virtual sockets, each associated with a specific protocol stack instance. This segmentation allows different protocol stack instances to have dedicated socket access paths, eliminating conflicts while maintaining resource utilization. The virtual socket layer acts as an intermediary that routes packets to the appropriate protocol stack instance based on the distribution policy.

The patent introduces a virtual socket as an intermediary layer between applications and protocol stack instances. This virtual socket manages the complexity of multiple protocol stack instances by providing a unified interface while internally routing to appropriate instances based on distribution policies. The intermediary handles socket creation, association, and packet distribution, shielding applications from the underlying complexity.

The patent implements dynamic socket association where virtual sockets can be flexibly bound to different protocol stack instances based on runtime conditions. When an application creates a socket, the system dynamically determines the appropriate protocol stack instance by comparing application specifications with network adapter distribution policies. This dynamic binding allows the system to adapt to different scenarios and avoid conflicts while maintaining application control.