Patents by Inventor Stephen E. J. Blightman
Stephen E. J. Blightman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20020156927Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has a TCP/IP Offload Network Interface Device (TONID) associated with a host computer. The TONID provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The TONID also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the TONID to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the TONID as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The TONID contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: October 24, 2002Applicant: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20020147839Abstract: A network interface device provides a fast-path that avoids most host TCP and IP protocol processing for most messages. The host retains a fallback slow-path processing capability. In one embodiment, generation of a response to a TCP/IP packet received onto the network interface device is accelerated by determining the TCP and IP source and destination information from the incoming packet, retrieving an appropriate template header, using a finite state machine to fill in the TCP and IP fields in the template header without sequential TCP and IP protocol processing, combining the filled-in template header with a data payload to form a packet, and then outputting the packet from the network interface device by pushing a pointer to the packet onto a transmit queue. A transmit sequencer retrieves the pointer from the transmit queue and causes the corresponding packet to be output from the network interface device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2002Publication date: October 10, 2002Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E.J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Patent number: 6434620Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1999Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Patent number: 6427173Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1999Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20020095519Abstract: A network interface device has a fast-path ACK generating and transmitting mechanism. ACKs are generated using a finite state machine (FSM). The FSM retrieves a template header and fills in TCP and IP fields in the template. The FSM is not a stack, but rather fills in the TCP and IP fields without performing transport layer processing and network layer processing sequentially as separate tasks. The filled-in template is placed into a buffer and a pointer to the buffer is pushed onto a high-priority transmit queue. Pointers for ordinary data packets are pushed onto a low-priority transmit queue. A transmit sequencer outputs a packet by popping a transmit queue, obtaining a pointer, and causing information pointed to by the pointer to be output from the network interface device as a packet. The sequencer pops the high-priority queue in preference to the low-priority queue, thereby accelerating ACK generation and transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2002Publication date: July 18, 2002Applicant: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Clive M. Philbrick, Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E.J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20020087732Abstract: A network interface device provides a fast-path that avoids most host TCP and IP protocol processing for most messages. The host retains a fallback slow-path processing capability. In one embodiment, generation of a response to a TCP/IP packet received onto the network interface device is accelerated by determining the TCP and IP source and destination information from the incoming packet, retrieving an appropriate template header, using a finite state machine to fill in the TCP and IP fields in the template header without sequential TCP and IP protocol processing, combining the filled-in template header with a data payload to form a packet, and then outputting the packet from the network interface device by pushing a pointer to the packet onto a transmit queue. A transmit sequencer retrieves the pointer from the transmit queue and causes the corresponding packet to be output from the network interface device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Applicant: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E.J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Patent number: 6393487Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2001Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Patent number: 6389479Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1998Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Patent number: 6334153Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: December 25, 2001Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20010047433Abstract: A Network Interface device (NI device) coupled to a host computer receives a multi-packet message from a network (for example, the Internet) and DMAs the data portions of the various packets directly into a destination in application memory on the host computer. The address of the destination is determined by supplying a first part of the first packet to an application program such that the application program returns the address of the destination. The address is supplied by the host computer to the NI device so that the NI device can DMA the data portions of the various packets directly into the destination. In some embodiments the NI device is an expansion card added to the host computer, whereas in other embodiments the NI device is a part of the host computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Applicant: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E.J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20010036196Abstract: A first partial checksum for the header portion of a TCP header is generated on an intelligent network interface card (INIC) before all the data of the data payload of the TCP message has been transferred to the INIC. A pseudopacket with the first partial checksum and the data is assembled in DRAM on the INIC as the data arrives onto the INIC. When the last portion of the data of the data payload is received onto the INIC, a second partial checksum for the data payload is generated. The pseudopacket is read out of DRAM for transfer to a network. While the pseudopacket is being transferred, the second partial header is combined with the first partial header and the resulting final checksum is inserted into the pseudopacket so that a complete TCP packet with a correct checksum is output from the INIC to the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: November 1, 2001Inventors: Stephen E. J. Blightman, Laurence B. Boucher, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20010037397Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The CPD provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The CPD also assists the host CPU for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A context for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the CPD to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be stored as a communication control block (CCB) that is controlled by either the CPD or by the host CPU. The CPD contains specialized hardware circuits that process media access control, network and transport layer headers of a packet received from the network, saving the host CPU from that processing for fast-path messages.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: November 1, 2001Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen
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Publication number: 20010027496Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2001Publication date: October 4, 2001Applicant: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20010023460Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2000Publication date: September 20, 2001Applicant: Alacritech Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E.J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Publication number: 20010021949Abstract: A network interface device couples a host computer to a network. The network interface device includes a processor and a DMA controller. The processor causes the DMA controller to perform multiple DMA commands before the processor takes a particular software branch. The processor issues the DMA commands by placing the DMA commands in a memory and then pushing values indicative of the DMA commands onto a DMA command queue. The values are popped off the DMA command queue and are executed by the DMA controller one at a time. The DMA commands are executed in the same order that they were issued by the processor. The processor need not monitor multiple DMA commands to make sure they have all been completed before the software branch is taken, but rather the processor pops a DMA command complete queue to make sure that the last of the DMA commands has been completed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2001Publication date: September 13, 2001Applicant: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E.J. Blightman, Daryl D. Starr, Clive M. Philbrick
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Patent number: 6247060Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the INIC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr
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Patent number: 6226680Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the IMC as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Alacritech, Inc.Inventors: Laurence B. Boucher, Stephen E. J. Blightman, Peter K. Craft, David A. Higgen, Clive M. Philbrick, Daryl D. Starr