Abstract: A system and method of processing data and managing protocol timers in a stateful protocol processing system configured to process multiple flows of messages is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving a first plurality of messages of a first of the flows comporting with a first stateful protocol. The method further includes assigning a first protocol processing core to process event information derived from the first plurality of messages. A first flow timer associated with the first of the flows is set, and a first timeout expiration event is generated upon expiration of the first flow timer. The first timeout expiration event is then forwarded to the first protocol processing core, and a first flow state associated with the first flow is retrieved in response thereto.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for processing messages according to one or more stateful protocols in a data communication system. Messages belonging to various communication flows (such as TCP transport layer “connections”) are processed according to a selected stateful protocol. Messages belonging to a single unified flow are distributed among different protocol processing cores (PPCs) at different times. Assignment of flows to PPCs is typically modifiable at the level of specific individual flows, permitting flexible load balancing between PPCs. The architecture of the system facilitates the method by providing a mix of pipelined and parallel processing structures.

Abstract: A system and method of processing data in a stateful protocol processing system (“SPPS”) configured to process a multiplicity of flows of messages is disclosed herein. The method includes receiving a first plurality of messages belonging to a first of the flows comporting with a first stateful protocol. In addition, a second plurality of messages belonging to a second of the flows comporting with a second stateful protocol are also received. Various events of at least first and second types associated with the first flow are then derived from the first plurality of received messages. The method further includes assigning a first protocol processing core to process the events of the first type in accordance with the first stateful protocol. A second protocol processing core is also assigned to process the events of the second type in accordance with the first stateful protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for managing shared state using multiple programmed processors within a stateful protocol processing system is disclosed herein. The disclosed method includes receiving a first message of a first flow comprised of a first plurality of messages, and deriving a first event from the first message. A first flow state characterizing the first flow is then retrieved. A first workspace portion of the first flow is assigned to a first protocol processing core, and a second workspace portion of the flow state is assigned to a second protocol processing core. The method further includes processing the first event using the first and second protocol processing cores. The first flow state may be defined at least in part by a plurality of protocol layers, in which case the first workspace portion and the second workspace portion correspond to different ones of such layers.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for processing messages according to one or more stateful protocols in a data communication system. Messages belonging to various communication flows (such as TCP transport layer “connections”) are processed according to a selected stateful protocol. Messages belonging to a single unified flow are distributed among different protocol processing cores (PPCs) at different times. Assignment of flows to PPCs is typically modifiable at the level of specific individual flows, permitting flexible load balancing between PPCs. The architecture of the system facilitates the method by providing a mix of pipelined and parallel processing structures.