Socket Wrapper Library for Unified IPv4 and IPv6 Network Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating systems that do not support unified IPv4 and IPv6 functionality require applications to manage both protocols separately, leading to complex design and portability issues, necessitating potential redesign or rewriting of applications to handle multiple network connections.
Innovation Solution
Implementing session layer logic between the application and network layers to create and manage multiple sockets for IPv4 and IPv6 communications, allowing applications to treat them as a single connection, thereby simplifying the handling of blocking and concurrency concerns and offloading platform-specific networking behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If applications manage IPv4 and IPv6 separately without unified OS support, then both protocols can be supported, but application complexity and portability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (socket wrapper library or session layer logic) between the application and the operating system's network stack. This intermediary transparently manages multiple IPv4 and IPv6 sockets, handling protocol-specific details such as address mapping, connection acceptance, and data routing. The application interacts with a unified interface while the intermediary translates requests to the appropriate protocol-specific sockets, thereby supporting both protocols without increasing application complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If applications are redesigned to handle multiple connections manually, then protocol support is achieved, but development time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing pre-built socket wrapper functions and library components that handle the complexities of multi-protocol support. Developers can integrate IPv4 and IPv6 support by linking against these pre-prepared libraries and calling standardized functions, rather than implementing protocol handling logic from scratch. The session layer logic is also prepared in advance to automatically manage socket creation, binding, and connection handling for both protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating wrapper functions that replicate the interface of standard socket APIs but add multi-protocol functionality. These wrapper functions copy and extend the behavior of conventional socket calls, providing the same application programming interface while internally managing both IPv4 and IPv6 connections. This allows applications to use familiar API patterns without the overhead of redesigning connection management logic.
3Ease of manufacture
If platform-specific networking behavior is exposed to applications, then OS functionality is utilized, but portability across different operating systems decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a platform-independent socket wrapper library that provides a unified interface for network operations. The wrapper functions are designed to work across different operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS) by abstracting OS-specific networking behaviors. The session layer logic adapts to platform-specific requirements while maintaining a consistent application interface, allowing the same application code to run portably on multiple platforms without modification.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with set transparent network communication are described. In one embodiment, in response to receiving a listen signal from a listen requestor, where the listen signal contains a handle identifying a set of interfaces from which the listen requestor is configured to receive incoming network communications: a set of listening endpoints are opened, where a member of the set of listening endpoints is associated with a member of the set of interfaces. The handle is modified to produce a modified handle that identifies the set of listening endpoints. The modified handle facilitates set transparent communication between the listen requester and a member of the set of listening endpoints. The modified handle is provided to the listen requester.