Allocation of shared resources for virtualized networking

Abstract

Technology for allocating network adapter resources such as air interface time and queue space amongst multiple virtual network stations or other virtual adapters is disclosed. As one example, the resource allocation may be based on analysis of the relative latency, jitter, or bandwidth considerations for applications communicating via each of the multiple virtual adapters. The resource allocation may also be based on how efficiently each of the virtual adapters utilized previously allocated resources.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for managing a shared network adapter, the method comprising:
 receiving data for transmission by the shared network adapter from multiple virtual adapters that access shared resources of the shared network adapter;   dynamically allocating the shared resources based at least in part on information from the multiple virtual adapters, the information including attributes associated with applications communicating over the shared network adapter via respective ones of the virtual adapters; and   controlling use of the shared resources based at least in part on the dynamic allocation.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein dynamically allocating the shared resources includes:
 determining at least one of latency or bandwidth characteristics from the information from the multiple virtual adapters.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein dynamically allocating the shared resources includes:
 assigning at least one of receiver access tokens or transmitter access tokens to each of the multiple virtual adapters based on bandwidth characteristics of the applications associated with respective ones of the virtual adapters.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein dynamically allocating the shared resources includes:
 allocating frequencies at which each of the at least two virtual adapters are granted use of a receiver of the shared network adapter; and   allocating receiver dwell durations for each of the at least two virtual adapters.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein dynamically allocating the shared resources includes:
 allocating at least one of a radio transmission schedule or a radio reception schedule based at least in part on minimum air interface access time for maintaining wireless connections.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein dynamically allocating the shared resources includes:
 allocating a radio transmission time reservation and a radio reception time reservation to a particular virtual adapter in response to a request by the particular virtual adapter to establish a wireless connection.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein dynamically allocating the shared resources includes:
 allocating radio resource access frequencies to each of the multiple virtual adapters based at least in part on jitter characteristics associated with the applications communicating over the shared network adapter via respective ones of the virtual adapters;   allocating radio receiver dwell durations to the multiple virtual stations based at least in part on bandwidth characteristics associated with the applications communicating over the shared network adapter via respective ones of the virtual adapters; and   allocating queue resource characteristics based at least in part on at least one of the jitter or bandwidth characteristics associated with the applications communicating over the shared network adapter via respective ones of the virtual adapters.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving feedback from the shared network adapter regarding transmission over an air interface during a scheduled transmission time; and   dynamically reallocating the shared resources based at least in part on the feedback.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least two of the multiple virtual adapter are configured to operate according to different air interface protocols. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least two of the multiple virtual adapter are configured to operate on different wireless channels. 
     
     
         31 . A computing device for providing multiple virtual network adapters, comprising:
 a physical radio adapted to transmit and receive data via a wireless medium; and   a memory and a processor that are respectively adapted to store and execute instructions for causing the computing device to:
 receive data for transmission by the physical radio from multiple virtual stations of the computing device that access shared resources of the physical radio; 
 dynamically allocate the shared resources based at least in part on information from the multiple virtual stations, the information including attributes associated with applications communicating over the physical radio via respective ones of the multiple virtual stations; and 
 control use of the shared resources based at least in part on the dynamic allocation. 
   
     
     
         32 . The computing device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the physical radio is a half-duplex radio and includes a receiver that is adapted to receive data via the wireless medium and a transmitter that is adapted to transmit data via the wireless medium; and   the dynamic allocation of the shared resources includes allocation of access to the wireless medium for the receiver and for the transmitter.   
     
     
         33 . The computing device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the physical radio includes a receiver that is adapted to receive data via the wireless medium; and   the dynamic allocation of the shared resources includes assignment of frequencies at which the receiver is allocated to service each of the virtual stations and dynamically determines lengths of time, following receipts of beacons, that the receiver continues to service each of the virtual stations.   
     
     
         34 . The computing device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the dynamic allocation of the shared resources includes allocation of air interface time for use by the multiple virtual stations based at least in part on prior utilization of previously allocated air interface time.   
     
     
         35 . The computing device of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions are also for causing the computing device to:
 receive feedback from the physical radio regarding transmission over an air interface; and   dynamically reallocate the shared resources based at least in part on the feedback.   
     
     
         36 . A computing device for sharing a physical radio amongst multiple virtual stations, comprising:
 the physical radio, wherein the physical radio is adapted to transmit and receive data via a wireless medium; and   a memory and a processor that are respectively adapted to store and execute instructions for causing the computing device to:
 receive information from each of a plurality of virtual stations operating on the computing device, wherein each of the plurality of virtual stations is configured to communicate with the wireless medium via the physical radio, wherein the information includes attributes associated with bandwidth characteristics of applications communicating over the physical radio via respective corresponding virtual stations of the multiple virtual stations; 
 allocate a radio transmission schedule of the physical radio based at least in part on the bandwidth characteristics of the applications; and 
 transmitting data for the plurality of virtual stations according to the allocated radio transmission schedule. 
   
     
     
         37 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein allocation of the radio transmission schedule includes:
 allocation of the radio transmission schedule based at least in part on minimum air interface access needed to maintain established wireless connections.   
     
     
         38 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions are also for causing the computing device to:
 receive feedback from the physical radio regarding transmission over the wireless medium; and   reallocate the radio transmission schedule based at least in part on the feedback.   
     
     
         39 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein at least two of the plurality of virtual stations are configured to operate according to different air interface protocols. 
     
     
         40 . The computing device of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions are also for causing the computing device to:
 allocate radio reception resources of the physical radio based at least in part on the bandwidth characteristics of the applications.