Patent US6112247A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6112247A
Expired / Lapsed
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Network controller for processing status queries
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-18
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Granted: 2000-08-29
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Expires: 2017-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided that allows a networked computer to generate a routable response to a status query without invoking its communication protocol stack. The computer is provided with a network controller that includes query detection and data routing modules. A message received by the network controller is scanned for a recognition code that identifies the message as a status query. A status query message includes a prototype response that includes the IP data necessary to respond to the query. When a message is identified as a status query, the data routing module extracts network routing data and the prototype response from the message and generates a routable response packet from the extracted information. Status data may be added to the routable response packet by the data routing module.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven D. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/90; H04L49/9047; H04L61/00; H04L69/00; H04L69/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
In a network controller capable of operating in lower power and higher power states, a method for responding to a status query comprising: scanning an address portion of a message while in the lower power state to determine if the message is addressed to the network controller; scanning a data portion of the message for a specified bit sequence if the message is addressed to the network controller; if the specified bit sequence is detected, remaining in the lower power state and responding to the message, using a prototype response and network header data from the message; and if the specified bit sequence is not detected, signaling a transition to the higher power state to prepare a response.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a network controller capable of operating in lower power and higher power states, a method for responding to a status query comprising: scanning an address portion of a message while in the lower power state to determine if the message is addressed to the network controller; scanning a data portion of the message for a specified bit sequence if the message is addressed to the network controller; if the specified bit sequence is detected, remaining in the lower power state and responding to the message, using a prototype response and network header data from the message; and if the specified bit sequence is not detected, signaling a transition to the higher power state to prepare a response.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein responding comprises: generating a network header for a response message from the retrieved network header data; appending the prototype response to the generated network header; and appending a network trailer to the prototype response.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 2, wherein generating comprises: designating as a local destination for the network header a local source specified in the retrieved network header data; and designating as a local source for the network header a local destination specified in the retrieved network header data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining whether additional data is required for the response message; retrieving the required response data from a designated buffer; and adding the retrieved response data to the response message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein responding to the message comprises generating a response comprises generating a response that may be routed to a node on a different network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein remaining in the lower power state comprises maintaining a computer system associated with the network controller in a lower power state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 6, wherein maintaining the associated computer system in the lower power state comprises generating the response without activating a communication protocol stack implemented by the computer system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
A network controller for processing a status query without recourse to a communication protocol stack, the network controller comprising: a network interface module to scan an address portion of a received message to determine if the message is addressed to the network controller; a query recognition module coupled to the network interface module, the query recognition module being capable of operating in a lower power state to scan a data portion of the message for a specified bit sequence if the message is addressed to the network controller; and a data routing module that also operates in the lower power state to retrieve local source and destination data and prototype response data from the message and generate a routable response message from the retrieved source, destination, and response data when the specified bit sequence is detected in the data portion of the message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A network controller for processing a status query without recourse to a communication protocol stack, the network controller comprising: a network interface module to scan an address portion of a received message to determine if the message is addressed to the network controller; a query recognition module coupled to the network interface module, the query recognition module being capable of operating in a lower power state to scan a data portion of the message for a specified bit sequence if the message is addressed to the network controller; and a data routing module that also operates in the lower power state to retrieve local source and destination data and prototype response data from the message and generate a routable response message from the retrieved source, destination, and response data when the specified bit sequence is detected in the data portion of the message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network controller of claim 8, further comprising a status data register to provide the data routing module with status data for the response message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The network controller of claim 8, wherein the query recognition module comprises: an inbound buffer including one or more storage locations; and a comparison module to compare data in the selected storage location with a specified recognition code and providing a match indication when the data matches the recognition code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The network controller of claim 10, wherein the data routing module comprises: an outbound buffer including one or more storage locations; and a selection module to couple data from a selected storage location in the inbound buffer to a storage location in the outbound buffer when the match indication is detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The network controller of claim 8, wherein the query recognition module and the data routing module are implemented by a programmable microcontroller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network controller of claim 8, wherein the query recognition module and the data routing module are implemented as dedicated circuits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network controller of claim 8, wherein the query recognition module invokes the communication protocol stack when the specified bit sequence is not identified in the received message.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a communication protocol stack, the communication protocol stack to be implemented by the processor to handle network communications when the computer system is in a higher power state; and a network controller including a query recognition module and a data routing module capable of operating in a lower power state, the query recognition module to determine from an address header whether an incoming message is addressed to the system and to determine from a data portion whether a message that is addressed to the system is a status query and the data routing module to generate a response to the incoming message if it is a status query, the network controller remaining in the low power state when the incoming message is a status query.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
131 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a communication protocol stack, the communication protocol stack to be implemented by the processor to handle network communications when the computer system is in a higher power state; and a network controller including a query recognition module and a data routing module capable of operating in a lower power state, the query recognition module to determine from an address header whether an incoming message is addressed to the system and to determine from a data portion whether a message that is addressed to the system is a status query and the data routing module to generate a response to the incoming message if it is a status query, the network controller remaining in the low power state when the incoming message is a status query.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the network controller further comprises a backend module, the back end module to operate in conjunction with the communication protocol stack to process an incoming message, when the incoming message is not a status query.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the processor and network controller module transition from the lower power state to a higher power state to respond to an incoming message that is not a status query.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 17, wherein the network controller further includes a backend module that operates in conjunction with the communication protocol stack when the network controller transitions to the higher power state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system of claim 15, wherein the query recognition module and the data routing module are implemented by a microcontroller.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for handling network communications in a computer system that includes a central processor and a network controller, the method comprising: scanning an address header of a message received by the network controller to determine whether the received message is addressed to the network controller, when the computer system is in a lower power state; if the message is addressed to the network controller, determining whether the message is a status query; the network controller remaining in the lower power state and generating a response to the message if the message is a status query; and the network controller invoking a communication protocol implemented by the central processor to generate a response if the message is not a status query.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for handling network communications in a computer system that includes a central processor and a network controller, the method comprising: scanning an address header of a message received by the network controller to determine whether the received message is addressed to the network controller, when the computer system is in a lower power state; if the message is addressed to the network controller, determining whether the message is a status query; the network controller remaining in the lower power state and generating a response to the message if the message is a status query; and the network controller invoking a communication protocol implemented by the central processor to generate a response if the message is not a status query.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20, wherein invoking a communication protocol triggers the central processor to transition from the lower power state to a higher power state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the network controller generating a response comprises: the network controller retrieving a prototype response and address information from the status query; and the network controller combining the retrieved prototype response and address information to form a status query response.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the network controller providing status information from a register to the status query response.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 20, wherein determining whether the detected message is a status query comprises; comparing data in a field of the detected message with a selected bit sequence; and identifying the detected message as a status query when the data matches the selected bit sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-29 | 2004-02-28 | 2004-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-29 | 2008-02-28 | 2008-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-29 | 2012-02-28 | 2012-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |