Patent · US Active

Method of determining a maximum transmission unit value of a network path using transport layer feedback

US7738495B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
2References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 2006
Grant dateJun 15, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 31, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L47/365
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A network element implementing a method for determining an optimal maximum transmission unit (MTU) value on a path between two nodes in a network is described. A sending node interested in learning the optimal MTU path value allows fragmentation of datagrams sent on the path, selects an initial MTU, and sends one or more data packets to a receiving node. Upon receiving the data the receiver determines if fragmentation occurred. If no fragmentation occurred then the MTU path selected is the optimal MTU for the given path between the nodes. If fragmentation did occur then the sender is notified that the selected MTU was not the optimal MTU for the path. Either the receiver proposes a new MTU for the path, or the sender selects a new, smaller MTU. The process repeats until the receiver detects no fragmentation.

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