Protocol data unit interface

摘要

An interface can be designed that efficiently constructs descriptors for streams of protocol data units (PDUs) and provides coherent views of the PDUs and the PDU stream for a requesting application regardless of location within a buffer pool for PDUs. The interface creates a descriptor for each PDU written into the buffer pool and links the descriptors in accordance with the appropriate order of the corresponding PDUs. The interface can create PDU descriptors hierarchically. For instance, a PDU descriptor for a PDU of a layer N protocol can refer to one or more PDU descriptors of a layer N−1 protocol.

主权项

1. A method for creating a hierarchy of descriptors for protocol data units of different protocols comprising:
while protocol data units of a first protocol at a first layer of a network stack are received and written into a buffer pool, creating, at a first level of the hierarchy, a first protocol descriptor for each protocol data unit of the first protocol responsive to determining that the protocol data unit has been written into the buffer pool, wherein the first protocol descriptor is created with at least an indication of a memory location where the protocol data unit has been written within the buffer pool; maintaining an order for the first protocol descriptors in accordance with an order of the protocol data units as indicated by the protocol data units; creating, at a second level of the hierarchy, second protocol descriptors for protocol data units of a second protocol at a second layer of the network stack, wherein each of the second protocol descriptors is created with a reference to at least one of the first protocol descriptors, the first layer of the network stack differing from the second layer of the network stack; and providing access to payloads of the protocol data units of the first protocol in the buffer pool with the second protocol descriptors.