Patent · US Active

Distributing tasks in data communications

US7644188B2 · kind B2 · utility

33Cited by
13References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 2002
Grant dateJan 5, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 31, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L69/329
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A capability of a device may be registered to an adapter. This capability may characterize the device in terms of tasks performing abilities that may be available or associated therewith. When a packet of data including a task to be handled is received at the adapter, based on the capability registered earlier for the device, the adapter may determine whether to assign the task to the device. An indication, such as packet processing information may be derived from the packet to assist in distribution of the task. By comparing the indication with the capability, the task may be offloaded to the device based on the comparison. Using the device for a networked device, in one embodiment, one or more network communication tasks associated with data communications may be distributed and optionally performed within an adapter. In this way, the networked device may be spared of undertaking network communication tasks that are conventionally performed within the networked device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.