EP0572145A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network adapter for headers alignment
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A computing system (10) is connected to a network (30). The computing system (10) includes a network adapter (12) and a main memory (11) . The network adapter (12) receives from the network (30) a network packet (110) having a plurality of headers. The network adapter (12) inserts at least one pad byte (115, 135) within one of the plurality of headers to cause the plurality of headers in the network packet (110) to be aligned along predetermined multi-byte boundaries. For example, the multi-byte boundaries are four-byte boundaries. After inserting the at least one pad byte (115, 135), the network adapter (12) forwards the network packet (110) to the main memory (11).
Inventors
- 👤 Michael I. Thompson
- 👤 Paul T. Congdon
- 👤 John Lindsay Burnett
- 👤 Frank Fiduccia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/55; H04L49/552; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5614; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5652; H04L69/00; H04L69/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
In a computing system (10) connected to a network (30), the computing system (10) including a network adapter (12), a method comprising the steps of: (a) searching, by the network adapter (12), a network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) of a network packet (110) to determine a destination service access point (114, 134) of the network packet (110); and, (b) based on the value of the destination service access point (114, 134) placing at least one pad byte (115, 135) in the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) to cause subsequent headers in the network packet (110) to be aligned along predetermined multi-byte boundaries.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein step (a) includes monitoring a data stream from the network (30) to the network adapter (12) as the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is received by the network adapter (12) and placing received bytes of the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) in a buffer (44) in the network adapter (12) and wherein step (b) includes inserting the at least one pad byte (115, 135) in the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) while the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is being placed in the buffer (44).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in step (b) when the destination service access point (114, 134) indicates the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is an FDDI snap header, the network adapter (12) inserts three pad bytes (115) after a destination service access point field (114, 134) of the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein in step (b) when the destination service access point indicates the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is an FDDI HP expansion header, the network adapter (12) inserts a single pad byte (135) after a destination service access point field (114, 134) of the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a computing system (10) connected to a network (30), the computing system (10) including a network adapter (12) and a main memory (11), a method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, by the network adapter (12), from the network (30), a network packet (110) having a plurality of headers, including the substep of: (a.1) inserting, by the network adapter (12), at least one pad byte (115, 135) within one of the plurality of headers to cause the plurality of headers in the network packet (110) to be aligned along predetermined multi-byte boundaries; and, (b) forwarding the network packet (110), by the network adapter (12), to the main memory (11).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein in substep (a.1) includes searching, by the network adapter (12), a network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) of the network packet (110) to determine a destination service access point of the network packet (110) and based on the value of the destination service access point placing a number of pad bytes (115, 135) in the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein step (a) includes monitoring a data stream from the network (30) to the network adapter (12) as a network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is received by the network adapter (12) and placing received bytes of the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) in a buffer (44) in the network adapter (12) and wherein substep (a.1) includes inserting the at least one pad byte in the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) while the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is being placed in the buffer (44).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a computing system (10) connected to a network (30), the computing system (10) including a main memory (11), a network adapter (12) comprising: receiving means (44) for receiving from the network (30) a network packet (110) having a plurality of headers; inserting means (45), coupled to the receiving means (44), for inserting at least one pad byte within one of the plurality of headers to cause the plurality of headers in the network packet (110) to be aligned along predetermined multi-byte boundaries; and, forwarding means (41) for forwarding the network packet (110) to the main memory (11).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A network adapter (12) as in claim 8 wherein the inserting means (45) includes means for searching a network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) of the network packet (110) to determine a destination service access point of the network packet (110) and based on the value of the destination service access point placing a number of pad bytes (115, 135) in the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A network adapter (12) as in claim 8 wherein the receiving means (44) includes means for monitoring a data stream from the network (30) to the network adapter (12) as a network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is received by the network adapter (12) and placing received bytes of the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) in a buffer (44) in the network adapter (12) and wherein the inserting means (45) inserts the at least one pad byte (115, 135) in the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) while the network link header (111-114, 116-119, 131-134, 136-140) is being placed in the buffer (44).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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