User defined protocol for zero-added-jitter and error free transmission of layer-2 datagrams across lossy packet-switched network links

Abstract

A zero-added-jitter protocol for transmission of datagrams over packet-switched networks between two or more connected microprocessor devices with negligible packet delay variation, adjustable forward error correction, congestion control, and negative acknowledgment datagram recovery. A method for the analysis and preservation of the instantaneous bitrate and packet spacing provides for the output of the datagrams to a network facing provider edge device matching in timing and inter-packet spacing, that which was originally received, along with a pre-configured time-delay for error correction. Additional embodiments provide duplication of path for reduction of re-requests; the splitting of path for faster transport between transmitter and receiver; encryption for more secure transport between transmitter and receiver; compression for more efficient transport between transmitter and receiver; and encryption and compression, for more secure, efficient transport between transmitter and receiver.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A process of operating two or more connected microprocessor devices of a known type so that the connected microprocessor devices may execute the transmission of datagrams over packet-switched networks with negligible packet delay variation and datagram recovery, said process comprising
 a. a transmitter datagram processing module including
 i. a counter unit to tag each incoming datagram from a network facing provider edge device with a sequential incremental number, 
 ii. a virtual packet size calculator to tag additional information in the datagram header, specifically, the virtual packet size, a number calculated as the bytes required to fill a private wire or set of point-to-point virtual circuits of predefined bitrate capacity set by the user, in a time equal to the inter-packet interval between the current and previous incoming datagrams, and send said tagged datagram to a virtual provider edge device and VPLS tunnel, and 
 iii. a forward error correction (FEC) unit to 
 A. tag parity computation data in the datagram header, and 
 B. create additional packets of parity computation data according to an FEC mode set by the user along a scale ranging from least bandwidth/least redundancy overhead to highest bandwidth/highest redundancy, 
 iv. a congestion control module comprising an algorithm to detect bandwidth saturation and reduce the rate of transmission of datagrams should saturation be detected, by dropping packets firstly in the re transmission stream, or secondly, on the main stream if necessary, in proportion to the bandwidth saturation, 
 v. a negative acknowledgment processing module including 
 A. a datagram storage module to store a copy of said tagged datagrams received from said virtual packet size calculator, and 
 B. a retransmit module to fetch one or more of said datagrams from said datagram storage module upon a negative acknowledgment notification and to retransmit said tagged datagrams via said virtual provider edge device 
   b. a receiver datagram processing module including
 i. a datagram buffer module to hold one or more tagged datagrams, 
 ii. a datagram parser module to receive tagged datagrams from said transmitter datagram processing module via a virtual provider edge device, and insert them into said datagram buffer module based on said sequential incremental number, and to discard them if duplicate, 
 iii. a gate to maintain said datagram buffer module at a limited size by the controlled release of said received tagged datagrams on a first-in, first-out basis, at a rate and inter-packet spacing matching the incoming inter-packet spacing, the gate having utilized the said private wire size and said virtual packet size in its calculations, to said transmitter datagram processing module, with a fixed delay of user determined size in conjunction with said datagram buffer module, 
 iv. a datagram restoration unit to remove said sequential tags and said virtual packet size information from said tagged datagrams before release to a network facing provider edge device, 
 v. a negative acknowledgment request module to receive copies of said tagged datagrams from the datagram parser module, to detect lost tagged datagrams based on said sequential incremental number, to rebuild said tagged datagrams using said forward error correction data where applicable or if said rebuilding fails, to send said negative acknowledgment notification upon detection of said lost tagged datagrams to said transmitter datagram processing module 
 vi. a congestion control module comprising an algorithm to detect bandwidth saturation and reduce the rate of lost packet requests should saturation be detected, by randomly dropping said requests, in proportion to the saturation level. 
   
     
     
         2 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transmitter datagram processing module further includes a data duplication module to duplicate said tagged datagrams, so that they may be transmitted separately 
     
     
         3 . A process for the transmission of datagrams over packet-switched networks as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transmitter datagram processing module further includes a data splitting module to split said tagged datagrams, so that they may be transmitted separately 
     
     
         4 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said transmitter datagram processing module further includes a data encryption module to encrypt said tagged datagrams so that they may be transmitted encrypted, and wherein said receiver datagram processing module further includes a data decryption module to decrypt said tagged and encrypted datagrams 
     
     
         5 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said transmitter datagram processing module further includes a data compression module to compress the said tagged datagrams, so that they may be transmitted compressed, and wherein said receiver datagram processing module further includes a data decompression module to decompress the said tagged and compressed datagrams. 
     
     
         6 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said transmitter datagram processing module further includes
 a. a data compression module to compress the said tagged datagrams, so that they may be transmitted compressed, and   b. a data encryption module to encrypt the said tagged and compressed datagrams so that they may be transmitted encrypted and compressed,   and wherein said receiver datagram processing module further includes   a. a data decryption module to decrypt the said tagged, encrypted and compressed datagrams,   b. and a data decompression module to decompress the said tagged and compressed datagrams.