Method and apparatus for distributed reassembly of subdivided packets using multiple reassembly components

摘要

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for distributed reassembly of large packets split into smaller packets. Larger packets are split into several smaller packets, which are marked with a sequence number, timestamp, or other ordering and reassembly indications, and sent through a system or network. These smaller packets are received at the destination location by multiple reassembly components, which distribute information as to received packets and coordinate the sending of packets from themselves so as to produce the reassembled larger packets. In one implementation, each of the multiple reassembly components maintains one or more data structures indicating packets stored locally and those packets stored anywhere or elsewhere within the multiple reassembly components. When all smaller packets comprising a larger packet are received by one of the distributed resequencing components, the reassembly components transmit their smaller packets in a coordinated fashion as to produce the original larger packet.