Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer protocol implementing – Computer-to-computer data transfer regulating
Reexamination Certificate
1994-10-13
2001-04-17
Rinehart, Mark (Department: 2756)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
Computer-to-computer data transfer regulating
C709S232000, C709S234000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219712
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of digital data processing systems and more particularly to information transfer arrangements in distributed systems.
As digital data processing systems, or computers, have become smaller and less expensive, individual computers are being used by individuals and small groups. To enhance sharing of data, communications among users and economy in connection with resources which may be infrequently used by an individual, computers have been connected into networks, which include, in addition to the computers used directly by the various users, servers which, for example, store large amounts of data which may be accessed, used and updated by a number of users in the system, thereby facilitating sharing of data. Servers may also control printers, telecommunications links, and so forth. In addition, servers may provide specialized computational services, such as database searching and sorting, and so forth. The various computers, which are termed clients, and servers are interconnected by a communications link to permit messages to be transferred among the various computers and servers comprising the distributed system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a new and improved information transfer arrangement for transferring messages, including commands and responses, among various elements in a distributed digital data processing system.
In brief summary, the arrangement includes a client node and a server node interconnected by a data link. The client node sequentially receives requests from user applications and generates, in response to each request, command messages for transmission by said interface, each command message including a command and having a transmit slot identifier identifying the request in the sequence of requests received by said request receiver and a transmit sequence identifier identifying the command message in the sequence of command messages relating to the request. The selection of whether to transmit a command message related to one request or to a subsequent request is based on a received slot identifier and a received sequence identifier in a response message.
The server node receives command messages from, and transmits response messages to, the client node over the data link. It selectively executes the command contained in each command message and generates, in response thereto, a response message including a response slot identifier and response sequence identifier corresponding to the command slot identifier and command sequence identifier. The determination of whether to execute a command in a command message is based on the command slot identifier and command sequence identifier of the received command message received by interface and the command slot identifier and command sequence identifier of the command message containing the previously executed command.
In another aspect, the invention performs congestion control. A node that generates messages for transmission over a network link to a second node includes a rate value in the message that identifies the instantaneous rate at which the second node can transmit successive messages back to the node. If the node detects that its network interface has become congested, the node decreases the rate value in a message subsequently transmitted to the second node to cause the second node to subsequently send successive messages to the node at the instantaneous rate identified by the reduced rate value.
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Mann Bruce E.
Saether Christian D.
Wells Philip J.
Cabletron Systems Inc.
Cardone Jason D.
Rinehart Mark
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks PC
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