`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Applicant
`Serial No.
`Filed
`
`Steven Leslie Pope, et al.
`11/916,973
`November 14, 2008
`
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Conf. No.
`
`2454
`Jeong S. Park
`1989
`
`Title
`
`RECEPTION ACCORDING TO A DATA TRANSFER PROTOCOL OF DATA
`DIRECTED TO ANY OF A PLURALITY OF DESTINATION ENTITIES FOR
`DATA EXTRACTION
`
`MAIL STOPAF
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-14 50
`
`AMENDMENT IN REPLY TO ACTION OF MARCH 7, 2013
`
`Please amend the above-identified application as follows:
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`001
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`Serial No. :
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`Attorney's Docket No.: 23465-
`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`Amendments to the Claims:
`
`This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of claims in the application:
`
`Listing of Claims:
`
`1. (Withdrawn) A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a
`
`data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination identities, the data
`
`processing system comprising:
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`data storage for storing data received over the network;
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`a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data available to
`
`respective destination identities; and
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`a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response indicating the
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`availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and forming such a
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`response;
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`wherein the message former is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message:
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`identify received data that is directed to any destination identity that is both a member of
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`the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities, and on which
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`processing has not yet been performed;
`
`trigger processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the protocol on
`
`only the identified data; and subsequently
`
`form a response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing, wherein the
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`response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for a destination
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`identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data to be made available to the
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`respective destination identity.
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`002
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`2.
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`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 1 wherein the first processing
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`arrangement is at user level.
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`3. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a
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`second data processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol on received data in the data storage other than the said identified data.
`
`4. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 3 wherein the second processing
`
`arrangement is a part of an operating system of the data processing system.
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`5. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 3 or claim 4 further comprising a
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`data structure, associated with the processing of the received data other than the identified data,
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`for storing an indication of: destination identities other than the subset of destination identities;
`
`and corresponding state data.
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`6. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 wherein the state data comprises
`
`indications of availability of received data to respective destination identities.
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`7.
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`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 6 wherein the indications of
`
`availability in the state data are formed based on the result of processing according to the
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`protocol of received data other than data directed to any of the subset of destination identities.
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`8. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the second
`
`processing arrangement is dedicated to the processing of the received data other than data
`
`directed to any of the subset of destination identities.
`
`9.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 8 wherein the first and second
`
`processing arrangements are implemented by means of respective threads
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`003
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`10.
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`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the
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`dedicated processing is performed as a background processing operation such that other
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`processing operations within the data processing system are not interrupted by the second
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`processing arrangement.
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`11. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the said
`
`subset contains destination identities which relate to active network connections.
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`12. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 11 as
`
`dependent on claim 5 wherein the said response is based additionally on the state data in the data
`
`structure.
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`13. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 12 wherein the said response is
`
`formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for a destination identity of
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`the group other than a member of the subset if the state data indicates availability of received
`
`data to the destination identity.
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`14.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the
`
`response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for a destination
`
`identity of the group if any processing other than the triggered processing causes data to be made
`
`available to the destination identity.
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`15. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 14 as
`
`dependent on claim 5 wherein the data structure is stored in a cache.
`
`16. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 15 as
`
`dependent on claim 5 wherein the data structure is stored in the operating system.
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`17. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim, further arranged to
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`transmit a communication to a process running on the data processing system in the event that
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`004
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`the said response compnses a positive indication of availability for a destination identity
`
`associated with the process.
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`18.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein each
`
`destination identity is associated with a socket.
`
`19. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the said
`
`making the received data available to respective destination identities comprises passing the data
`
`from the data storage to one or more buffers associated with the respective destination identities.
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`20. (Withdrawn) A data processing system according to any preceding claim wherein the said
`
`message is transmitted by means of a user process running on the data processing system.
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`21. (Withdrawn) A data processing system arranged for transmitting over a network, according
`
`to a data transfer protocol, data from any of a plurality of destination identities, the data
`
`processing system comprising:
`
`data storage for storing data to be transmitted over the network;
`
`a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol on data in the data storage, for making the data available for transmission over
`
`the network; and
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`a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response indicating the
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`availability of data from each of a group of destination identities for transmission over the
`
`network; and forming such a response;
`
`wherein the message former is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message:
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`identify data in the data storage that is from any destination identity that is both a member
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`of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities, and on which
`
`processing has not yet been performed;
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`trigger processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the protocol on
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`only the identified data; and subsequently
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`005
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`form a response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing, wherein the
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`response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for transmission
`
`for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data from the respective
`
`destination identity to be made available for transmission over the network.
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`22.
`
`(Withdrawn) A method for processing data received over a network wherein the data is
`
`transmitted over the network according to a data transfer protocol and is directed to any of a
`
`plurality of destination identities, the method comprising the steps of:
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`storing data received over the network;
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`receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of received data to
`
`each of a group of destination identities; and, in dependence on receiving the said message:
`
`identifying received data that is directed to any destination identity that is both a member
`
`of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities, and on which
`
`processing has not yet been performed;
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`triggering processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol on only the identified data, the processing being for making the identified data
`
`available to respective destination identities; and subsequently
`
`forming the response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing,
`
`wherein the response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for a
`
`destination identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data to be made available to
`
`the respective destination identity.
`
`23. (Withdrawn) A method for processing data to be transmitted over a network wherein the
`
`network is such that data is transmitted according to a data transfer protocol from any of a
`
`plurality of destination identities, the method comprising the steps of:
`
`storing data to be transmitted over the network;
`
`receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of data from each of
`
`a group of destination identities for transmission over the network; and, in dependence on
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`receiving the said message:
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`006
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`identifying data in the data storage that is from any destination identity that is both a
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`member of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities, and on
`
`which processing has not yet been performed;
`
`triggering processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the data
`
`transfer protocol on only the identified data, the processing being for making the identified data
`
`available for transmission over the network; and subsequently
`
`forming the response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing,
`
`wherein the response is formed so as to comprise a positive indication of availability of data for
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`transmission for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data from
`
`the respective destination identity to be made available for transmission over the network.
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`24. (Withdrawn) A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a
`
`data transfer protocol, groups of data each directed to any of a plurality of destination identities,
`
`the data processing system comprising:
`
`a plurality of buffers for storing groups of data received over the network;
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`a processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data transfer
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`protocol on received data in the buffers, for making the received data available to respective
`
`destination identities; and
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`a controller arranged to, in dependence on the destination identity to which the group is
`
`directed, select for each received group of data, one of the plurality of buffers in which to store
`
`the group of data, and to store the group in the selected buffer prior to processing of the group by
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`the processing arrangement in accordance with the data transfer protocol.
`
`25.
`
`(Withdrawn) An operating system for use in a data processing system compnsmg an
`
`application and a library for supporting one or more functions; wherein the operating system is
`
`arranged for:
`
`receiving from the application an instruction to perform an operation;
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`determining whether both of conditions (a) and (b) are true, where:
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`(a) is that the operation relates to any of the said functions; and
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`007
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`(b) is that the route by which the instruction reached the operating system does not include the
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`library; and
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`ifboth of the conditions are determined to be true, passing an indication of the instruction
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`to the library.
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`26. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 25 arranged not to perform the said
`
`operation in response to receiving the instruction if both of the conditions are determined to be
`
`true.
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`27. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 arranged to perform
`
`the operation in response to receiving a trigger from the library if both of the conditions are
`
`determined to be true.
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`28. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 27 wherein the said
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`determining comprises identifying a file descriptor included in the instruction.
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`29.
`
`(Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the said determining
`
`further comprises determining whether the identified file descriptor relates to any of the said
`
`functions.
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`30. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 29 further arranged for
`
`storing a first data structure comprising indications of file descriptors and state data for each
`
`indicated file descriptor.
`
`31. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the state data comprises
`
`for each indicated file descriptor an indication of whether the file descriptor is in use by the
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`library.
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`32.
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`(Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the said
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`determining further comprises accessing the first data structure.
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`008
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`33. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 32 further arranged for
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`storing a second data structure comprising indications of types of operation and, for each type, an
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`indication of whether the type relates to any of the said functions.
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`34. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 33 wherein the said
`
`determining comprises identifying the type of the operation.
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`35. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in claim 34 as dependent on claim 33 wherein
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`the said determining further comprises accessing the second data structure.
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`36. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 35 wherein the said
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`functions relate to the transfer of data over a network.
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`37. (Withdrawn) An operating system as claimed in any of claims 25 to 36 wherein the said
`
`determining comprises determining whether one of conditions (a) and (b) is true and, only if that
`
`condition is true, determining whether the other of the conditions is true.
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`38. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising an operating system as claimed in any of
`
`claims 25 to 3 7.
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`39. (Withdrawn) A method for forwarding instructions in a data processing system comprising
`
`an operating system, an application and a library for supporting one or more functions, the
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`method comprising the steps of:
`
`receiVmg at the operating system an instruction from the application to perform an
`
`operation;
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`determining whether both of conditions (a) and (b) are true, where:
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`(a) is that the operation relates to any of the said functions; and
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`(b) is that the route by which the instruction reached the operating system does not include the
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`library; and
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`009
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`ifboth of the conditions are determined to be true, passing an indication of the instruction
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`to the library.
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`40. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
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`a data processor for executing instructions to support one or more processes;
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`memory for storing data;
`
`an interface whereby the data processor can transmit data to a remote receiver; and
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`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, each such
`
`area comprising a set of contiguous memory locations in the memory and the configuration store
`
`storing an order for each area;
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`the interface being responsive to receiving an instruction of a predetermined form from
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`the data processor specifying a starting memory location and a length to, if the specified starting
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`memory location is in one of the areas defined in the configuration store and the specified length
`
`exceeds the length of the area starting from the specified location to automatically transmit data
`
`from the next area in order as defined in the configuration store.
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`41. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 40, wherein the configuration store is local to
`
`the interface.
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`42. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 41, wherein the configuration store stores, for
`
`each area and identification of an entity as being associated with that area and the controller is
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`responsive to the instruction of the predetermined form to verify that an entity that has sent the
`
`instruction of the second type is associated with the indicated location, and is arranged to
`
`transmit data from the area responsive to the instruction only if that verification is successful.
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`43. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 42, wherein the interface is
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`responsive to the said instruction to transmit data from the area in which the starting location is
`
`located starting from the specified location.
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`010
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`44. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 43, wherein the interface is
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`arranged to read data for transmission from the memory by direct memory access.
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`45. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 44, wherein the configuration
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`store indicates the physical addresses of the areas in the memory.
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`46. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 45, having access to mapping
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`data defining a mapping between a physical address space of the memory and a virtual address
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`space and wherein the configuration store indicates the addresses of the areas in the virtual
`
`address space.
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`47. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 40 to 46, wherein the interface is a
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`network interface and is arranged to transmit the data to the receiver by means of a network
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`protocol.
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`48. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 47, wherein the network protocol is TCP/IP.
`
`49. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 47 or 48, wherein the interface is arranged to
`
`transmit the data over Ethernet.
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`50.
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`(Withdrawn) A method for transmitting data by means of a data processmg system
`
`comprising: a data processor for executing instructions to support one or more processes;
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`memory for storing data; an interface whereby the data processor can transmit data to a remote
`
`receiver; and a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, each
`
`such area comprising a set of contiguous memory locations in the memory and the configuration
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`store storing an order for each area; the method comprising:
`
`receiving an instruction of a predetermined form from the data processor specifying a
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`starting memory location and a length;
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`in response to receiving the instruction, if the specified starting memory location is in one
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`of the areas defined in the configuration store and the specified length exceeds the length of the
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`area starting from the specified location automatically transmitting data from the next area in
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`order as defined in the configuration store.
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`51. (Withdrawn) A method as claimed in claim 50, comprising, in order, the steps prior to the
`
`said receiving step of:
`
`identifying a block of data in the memory for transmission;
`
`storing in the configuration store a definition of an area that encompasses the said block
`
`of data; and
`
`transmitting to the interface an instruction of the predetermined form specifying a starting
`
`memory location in that area.
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`52. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
`
`a data processor for executing instructions to support one or more processes;
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`memory for storing data;
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`an interface whereby the data processor can receive data from a remote transmitter; and
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`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, each such
`
`area comprising a set of contiguous memory locations in the memory and the configuration store
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`storing an order for each area;
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`the interface being responsive to receiving a block of data from a remote transmitter for
`
`writing to a starting location in one of the areas to, if the length of the received data exceeds the
`
`length of the area starting from the specified location to automatically write some of the received
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`data to the next area in order as defined in the configuration store.
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`53. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 52, wherein the configuration store is local to
`
`the interface.
`
`54. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 53, wherein the configuration store stores, for
`
`each area and identification of an entity as being associated with that area and the controller is
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`responsive to receiving a block of data together with an indication of an entity to verify that that
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`entity is associated with the indicated location, and is arranged to write data to from the area
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`responsive to the instruction only if that verification is successful.
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`55. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 54, wherein the interface is
`
`arranged to write data for transmission to the memory by direct memory access.
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`56. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 55, wherein the configuration
`
`store indicates the physical addresses of the areas in the memory.
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`57. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 56, having access to mapping
`
`data defining a mapping between a physical address space of the memory and a virtual address
`
`space and wherein the configuration store indicates the addresses of the areas in the virtual
`
`address space.
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`58. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 52 to 57, wherein the interface is a
`
`network interface and is arranged to receive the by means of a network protocol.
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`59. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 58, wherein the network protocol is TCP/IP.
`
`60. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 58 or 59, wherein the interface is arranged to
`
`receive the data over Ethernet.
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`61. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
`
`a data processor for executing instructions to support two or more processes;
`
`memory for storing data;
`
`an interface whereby the data processor can transmit data to a remote receiver; and
`
`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, and for
`
`each one an identification of a process associated therewith;
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`the interface being responsive to receiving an instruction of a predetermined form from a
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`process supported by the data processor specifying data in one of the areas to read the specified
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`data from the area and transmit that data to a remote receiver together with the identification of a
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`process stored for that area in the configuration store.
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`62. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in claim 61, wherein the configuration
`
`store is local to the interface.
`
`63.
`
`(Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in claim 61 or 62, wherein the data
`
`processor implements a plurality of queues for communication between the processes and the
`
`interface, each queue being associated with a respective process, and the interface is arranged to
`
`identify which process an instruction is from by the queue on which it has received the
`
`instruction.
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`64. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 61 to 63, wherein the
`
`interface is arranged to read the data from the area by direct memory access.
`
`65. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 61 to 64, wherein the interface is a
`
`network interface and is arranged to transmit the data to the receiver by means of a network
`
`protocol.
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`66. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 65, wherein the network protocol is TCP/IP.
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`67. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 65 or 66, wherein the interface is arranged to
`
`transmit the data over Ethernet.
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`68. (Withdrawn) A data processing system comprising:
`
`a data processor for executing instructions to support two or more processes;
`
`memory for storing data;
`
`an interface whereby the data processor can receive data from a remote receiver; and
`
`a configuration store storing definitions of a plurality of areas in the memory, and for
`
`each one an identification of a process on a remote receiver associated therewith;
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`014
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`the interface being responsive to receiving from the remote receiver data directed to one of the
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`areas together with an identification of a process to check whether that identified process
`
`matches the identification of a process stored for that one of the areas in the configuration store
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`and only if it does match to write that data to that configuration store.
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`69. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in claim 68, wherein the configuration
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`store is local to the interface.
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`70. (Withdrawn) A data processing system as claimed in any of claims 61 to 69, wherein the
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`interface is arranged to write the data from the area by direct memory access.
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`71. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in any of claims 61 to 70, wherein the interface is a
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`network interface and is arranged to receive the data by means of a network protocol.
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`72. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 71, wherein the network protocol is TCP/IP.
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`73. (Withdrawn) An interface as claimed in claim 71 or 72, wherein the interface is arranged to
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`receive the data over Ethernet.
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`74.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement for a data processing system that has an
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`application, a first routine, and an operating system capable of being configured to automatically
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`send signals to routines external to the operating system for initiating execution of the said
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`routines, wherein the first routine is such that execution thereof requires access to a resource, the
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`signal handling arrangement being arranged to:
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`determine whether the resource is available; and
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`if such determination is negative, delay signals from the operating system for initiating
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`execution of the first routine.
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`75. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 74 wherein the signals from
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`the operating system for initiating execution of the first routine are asynchronous.
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`015
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`November 14, 2008
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`76. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 74 or claim 75 wherein the
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`said determining comprises determining whether the resource is in use by an application.
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`77. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 76 wherein
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`the operating system is capable of being configured by means of instructions to send signals for
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`initiating execution of the first routine in response to conditions specified in the instructions.
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`78.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 77 further arranged to
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`intercept such instructions sent from an application, modify the instructions, and pass the
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`modified instructions to the operating system so as to configure the operating system to send to
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`the signal handling arrangement signals for initiating execution of the first routine in response to
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`the conditions specified in the instructions.
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`79. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 78 further
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`arranged to, if the determination is negative, signal the first routine to cause execution thereof
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`when the resource becomes available.
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`80. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 79 further
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`arranged to maintain a memory location for indicating the availability of the resource, and
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`wherein the said determining comprises accessing the memory location.
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`81.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 80 further arranged to,
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`when a second routine begins, the second routine being such that execution thereof requires
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`access to the resource, store in the memory location an indicator of a position in a stack
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`indicating the address to which processing control is to return when the second routine is
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`completed.
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`82.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 81 further arranged to,
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`when the second routine begins, store at the said position in the stack an indicator of an address
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`of a routine for signalling the first routine to initiate execution thereof, whereby the first routine
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`016
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`Serial No. :
`Filed
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`Steven Leslie Pope, et al.
`11/916,973
`November 14, 2008
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`Attorney's Docket No.: 23465-
`0003US1 I 307810.US/PRS/PSR
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`may be automatically signalled to initiate execution thereof in response to completion of the
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`second routine.
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`83. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 82 further arranged to, in
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`response to completion of the second routine, store in the memory location an indication that the
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`resource is available.
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`84. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 83 wherein
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`the data processing system implements a user-level networking stack.
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`85. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 84 wherein
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`the data processing system comprises a library.
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`86. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in claim 85 as dependent on claim
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`84 wherein the user-level stack is implemented by means of the library.
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`87.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed m claim 85 or claim 86
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`implemented at least partly by the library.
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`88.
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`(Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed m any of claims 74 to 87
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`implemented at least partly by the application.
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`89. (Withdrawn) A signal handling arrangement as claimed in any of claims 74 to 88 wherein
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`the resource