Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 8,060,644, I will examine the patent's cited references. The patent lists a substantial number of citations in its "Citations" section. I will analyze the first few citations (both "Cited by examiner" and "Cited by third party") in detail to determine their potential relevance to claims 1 and 5 of US 8,060,644. Due to the large number of citations, a comprehensive analysis of every single cited patent is beyond the scope of this response.

Here's an analysis of some of the prior art cited in US 8,060,644:

Cited by Examiner / Cited by Third Party References:

1. US6460080B1

   • Full Citation: US6460080B1, "Credit based flow control scheme over virtual interface architecture for system area networks".
   • Publication Date: October 1, 2002.
   • Filing Date: January 8, 1999.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a credit-based flow control scheme used in a virtual interface (VI) architecture for system area networks. It focuses on managing data transfer between a consumer and a producer using credits to prevent buffer overruns. The consumer grants credits to the producer, allowing the producer to send data up to the granted credit limit.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6460080B1 potentially anticipates elements of claims 1 and 5, particularly regarding the use of a credit-based flow control scheme where the receiver (consumer) manages the sender's (producer's) ability to transmit data based on available buffer space. Claim 1 of US 8,060,644 describes increasing a receive window based on application buffer availability, and claim 5 details a flow control scheme where the intelligent network adaptor provides a receive window based on consumption of application data from application buffers. The credit-based system in US6460080B1 directly relates to managing data flow based on receiver buffer availability, which is a core concept in both independent claims.

2. US20030005164A1

   • Full Citation: US20030005164A1, "Dynamic network interface".
   • Publication Date: January 2, 2003.
   • Filing Date: June 27, 2001.
   • Brief Description: This application describes a dynamic network interface that can offload protocol processing from a host. It discusses a network interface that adapts its behavior, including memory management and processing tasks, based on network conditions and host requirements.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference generally describes an intelligent network interface that offloads protocol processing and dynamically manages resources. While it doesn't explicitly detail the specific end-to-end flow control based on application consumption as precisely as 8,060,644, its general concept of an "intelligent network adaptor" performing protocol processing and managing data flow could broadly anticipate some aspects of claims 1 and 5. The adaptive nature of the interface and offloading of protocol processing are foundational to 8,060,644.

3. US6564267B1

   • Full Citation: US6564267B1, "Network adapter with large frame transfer emulation".
   • Publication Date: May 13, 2003.
   • Filing Date: November 22, 1999.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a network adapter that can emulate large frame transfers, such as those used in Gigabit Ethernet, on a network that does not inherently support them. It involves segmenting and reassembling data to achieve efficient large data unit transfers.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While not directly focused on end-to-end flow control at the application level, this patent is relevant to efficient data transfer and handling of large data units by a network adapter. The concept of managing and efficiently moving large amounts of data, even if through emulation, could be considered a precursor to the large buffer handling and windowing described in claim 5, particularly where the host memory application buffer is larger than the protocol's flow control limit.

4. US20040073703A1

   • Full Citation: US20040073703A1, "Fast-path apparatus for receiving data corresponding a TCP connection".
   • Publication Date: April 15, 2004.
   • Filing Date: October 14, 1997.
   • Brief Description: This application details a fast-path apparatus within a network interface device for receiving TCP connection data. It aims to accelerate TCP data reception by optimizing the processing path for common data flows.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference describes a "fast-path" for receiving TCP data, which implies efficient data handling and potentially direct placement or reduced overhead. The focus on accelerating TCP data reception aligns with the goals of US 8,060,644 to achieve high-speed and low-latency communication. While it might not explicitly detail the application-driven flow control, the underlying mechanisms for optimized data delivery could broadly anticipate the direct data placement aspects mentioned in claims 1 and 5.

5. US20040158640A1

   • Full Citation: US20040158640A1, "Transferring control of a TCP connection between devices".
   • Publication Date: August 12, 2004.
   • Filing Date: October 14, 1997.
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes a system for transferring control of a TCP connection between a host and a network interface device, allowing for offloading and onload of TCP processing.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is significant as it discusses the dynamic offloading and onloading of TCP connections, indicating an intelligent network adapter that can take over protocol processing from the host. This directly relates to the "intelligent network adaptor performs protocol processing of the connection" element in claims 1 and 5. The ability to transfer control implies a sophisticated interaction and resource management between the host and the adaptor, which is a fundamental aspect of US 8,060,644.

6. US20050083850A1

   • Full Citation: US20050083850A1, "Method for adjusting a transmission rate to obtain the optimum transmission rate in a mobile ad hoc network environment".
   • Publication Date: April 21, 2005.
   • Filing Date: October 18, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This patent application focuses on adjusting transmission rates in mobile ad hoc networks to achieve optimal performance. It describes methods for dynamic rate adaptation based on network conditions.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While in a different networking context (mobile ad hoc networks), the core idea of dynamically adjusting transmission rates based on network conditions and receiver capabilities is highly relevant to flow control. This could broadly anticipate the concept of modulating the receive window based on available resources, as outlined in claims 1 and 5.

7. US6907042B1

   • Full Citation: US6907042B1, "Packet processing device".
   • Publication Date: June 14, 2005.
   • Filing Date: May 18, 1999.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a packet processing device that can perform various operations on network packets, including header processing and data manipulation, to efficiently handle network traffic.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes a general "packet processing device" that handles network packets and performs header processing, a key function of the "intelligent network adaptor" in US 8,060,644. While broad, it sets a precedent for intelligent handling of network traffic by a dedicated device, which is a precursor to the specific flow control mechanisms claimed in 8,060,644.

8. US6996070B2

   • Full Citation: US6996070B2, "TCP/IP offload device with reduced sequential processing".
   • Publication Date: February 7, 2006.
   • Filing Date: December 5, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This patent details a TCP/IP offload device designed to reduce sequential processing steps, thereby improving efficiency and performance in handling TCP/IP traffic.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it describes a "TCP/IP offload device" that aims to improve efficiency by reducing sequential processing. This directly aligns with the objective of US 8,060,644 to reduce demands on host processing and memory resources by offloading protocol processing to the intelligent network adapter. The focus on reducing sequential processing implicitly supports faster data delivery, which is a prerequisite for the end-to-end flow control described in claims 1 and 5.

9. US20060075119A1

   • Full Citation: US20060075119A1, "TCP host".
   • Publication Date: April 6, 2006.
   • Filing Date: September 10, 2004.
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes various aspects of a TCP host, potentially including how it interacts with network interfaces and manages data for TCP connections.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While a broad title, a "TCP host" would inherently deal with the management of TCP connections and the receipt of data. Depending on the detailed specification, it could potentially describe methods for host-side buffer management and communication with a network adapter, which are fundamental to the flow control mechanisms in claims 1 and 5 of US 8,060,644.

10. US7089289B1

    • Full Citation: US7089289B1, "Mechanisms for efficient message passing with copy avoidance in a distributed system using advanced network devices".
    • Publication Date: August 8, 2006.
    • Filing Date: July 18, 2000.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes mechanisms for efficient message passing in distributed systems, specifically highlighting "copy avoidance" using advanced network devices. This directly points to the "zero-copy" concept.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a very strong prior art candidate, as it explicitly mentions "copy avoidance" and "efficient message passing using advanced network devices." The concept of direct data placement ("zero-copy") from the network adaptor to application memory, central to both claims 1 and 5, is directly addressed. While it may not specify the exact end-to-end flow control based on application consumption, the core mechanism of avoiding copies to operating system buffers is present.

11. US20070033301A1

    • Full Citation: US20070033301A1, "Method and system for transparent TCP offload with dynamic zero copy sending".
    • Publication Date: February 8, 2007.
    • Filing Date: July 18, 2005.
    • Brief Description: This application describes a method and system for transparent TCP offload, which includes "dynamic zero-copy sending."
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly pertinent as it directly addresses "transparent TCP offload" and "dynamic zero-copy sending." The concept of zero-copy is crucial to US 8,060,644, particularly the direct placement of application data into host memory application buffer (claims 1 and 5). The "transparent" aspect suggests that this offload happens without requiring application modification, which is also discussed in 8,060,644 (adaptive copy avoidance scheme being transparent to applications).

12. US20070086480A1

    • Full Citation: US20070086480A1, "Associating a packet with a flow".
    • Publication Date: April 19, 2007.
    • Filing Date: July 30, 1999.
    • Brief Description: This application discusses methods for associating incoming network packets with specific data flows or connections, which is fundamental for proper protocol processing and data delivery in a multi-connection environment.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent application deals with a more fundamental aspect of network processing (packet classification), it is a necessary precursor for any intelligent network adaptor to perform protocol processing for a "stateful connection," as described in claims 1 and 5 of US 8,060,644. Without the ability to associate packets with flows, the advanced flow control mechanisms of 8,060,644 would not be possible.

13. US7346701B2

    • Full Citation: US7346701B2, "System and method for TCP offload".
    • Publication Date: March 18, 2008.
    • Filing Date: August 30, 2002.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for TCP offload, enabling a network adapter to handle TCP processing independently of the host CPU.
      Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other TCP offload references, this patent directly addresses the core concept of offloading TCP processing to an intelligent network adapter, which is a fundamental component of claims 1 and 5. The details of how the offload is managed would be critical in determining the extent of anticipation, especially regarding the interaction with host memory and application buffers.

14. US20080089347A1

    • Full Citation: US20080089347A1, "Systems and methods for broadband network optimization".
    • Publication Date: April 17, 2008.
    • Filing Date: August 29, 2003.
    • Brief Description: This application focuses on optimizing broadband network performance through various systems and methods. It likely includes techniques for efficient data transfer and resource management in high-speed networks.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference's broad focus on "broadband network optimization" could encompass aspects of efficient data transfer, reduced latency, and managing host resources, all of which are objectives of US 8,060,644. Depending on the specific optimization methods disclosed, it could potentially touch upon elements related to direct data placement or dynamic flow control.

15. US7457845B2

    • Full Citation: US7457845B2, "Method and system for TCP/IP using generic buffers for non-posting TCP applications".
    • Publication Date: November 25, 2008.
    • Filing Date: August 23, 2002.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for TCP/IP communication that uses generic buffers, especially for TCP applications that do not explicitly "post" their own buffers. This implies a mechanism for handling data when direct application buffers are not immediately available.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the "adaptive copy avoidance" scheme discussed in the detailed description of US 8,060,644. The use of "generic buffers" for "non-posting TCP applications" directly addresses the scenario where application buffers are not pre-registered, and data might initially be placed in OS-associated buffers before being copied to application buffers. This directly anticipates the distinction made in claim 1 between direct placement and placement to OS-associated memory when application buffers are not available.

16. US20090073884A1

    • Full Citation: US20090073884A1, "Network receive interface for high bandwidth hardware-accelerated packet processing".
    • Publication Date: March 19, 2009.
    • Filing Date: February 14, 2003.
    • Brief Description: This application describes a network receive interface optimized for high-bandwidth and hardware-accelerated packet processing, aiming for efficient handling of incoming network data.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The focus on "high bandwidth hardware-accelerated packet processing" aligns with the overall goal of US 8,060,644 for high-speed and low-latency communication. Depending on the specific mechanisms for hardware acceleration and data delivery to the host, it could broadly anticipate elements of direct data placement and efficient processing outlined in claims 1 and 5.

17. US7616563B1

    • Full Citation: US7616563B1, "Method to implement an L4-L7 switch using split connections and an offloading NIC".
    • Publication Date: November 10, 2009.
    • Filing Date: August 31, 2005.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a method to implement a Layer 4-7 switch using split connections and an offloading Network Interface Card (NIC), indicating a NIC capable of advanced protocol processing and connection management.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference reinforces the concept of an intelligent network adapter (offloading NIC) that performs sophisticated protocol processing and connection management at higher layers. This directly supports the idea of an "intelligent network adaptor performs protocol processing of the connection" as stated in claims 1 and 5.

18. US7826350B1

    • Full Citation: US7826350B1, "Intelligent network adaptor with adaptive direct data placement scheme".
    • Publication Date: November 2, 2010.
    • Filing Date: May 11, 2007.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes an intelligent network adaptor with an "adaptive direct data placement scheme," suggesting a dynamic decision-making process for where to place incoming data in host memory (e.g., directly to application buffers or initially to OS buffers).
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is particularly notable because it shares the same filing date (May 11, 2007) and inventors as US 8,060,644, and is explicitly stated in the "CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS" section as a related U.S. Non-Provisional Application (application Ser. No. 11/747,650). It directly describes the "adaptive direct data placement scheme" which is a key component discussed in the detailed description of US 8,060,644 for placing application data. This patent would be considered very strong prior art for the direct data placement aspects and the adaptive decision-making process described in claims 1 and 5, potentially anticipating the "placing application data... directly to host memory application buffer... without the application data being first provided... to host memory buffer associated with a host operating system" element.

19. US7929540B2

    • Full Citation: US7929540B2, "System and method for handling out-of-order frames".
    • Publication Date: April 19, 2011.
    • Filing Date: August 30, 2002.
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for handling out-of-order frames (packets), which is a common issue in network communication, ensuring correct data reassembly.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The ability to handle and reorder out-of-order data is discussed in US 8,060,644 in the context of the intelligent network adaptor placing such data directly in the application buffer or in adaptor memory for re-assembly. This prior art directly addresses the technical challenge of out-of-order data, and while it might not specify the exact end-to-end flow control, it lays the groundwork for accurate and reliable data delivery necessary for the claimed invention.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art:

The most relevant prior art appears to be the patents and applications that focus on:

• TCP Offload Engines (TOEs) and Intelligent Network Adaptors: References like US20030005164A1, US20040158640A1, US6996070B2, US20070033301A1, and US7346701B2 demonstrate the existing knowledge of offloading TCP processing to network adapters. These broadly anticipate the "intelligent network adaptor performs protocol processing of the connection" element of claims 1 and 5.
• Direct Data Placement / Zero-Copy Mechanisms: US7089289B1 ("Mechanisms for efficient message passing with copy avoidance") and US20070033301A1 ("Method and system for transparent TCP offload with dynamic zero copy sending") are particularly strong as they explicitly describe the "zero-copy" concept, which is central to the direct placement of application data into application buffers as claimed in US 8,060,644.
• Adaptive Data Placement and Interaction with OS Buffers: US7457845B2 ("Method and system for TCP/IP using generic buffers for non-posting TCP applications") is highly relevant as it addresses the scenario where direct application buffers might not always be available, leading to the use of intermediate buffers (like OS buffers), which is part of the adaptive scheme described in US 8,060,644.
• Credit-Based Flow Control: US6460080B1 ("Credit based flow control scheme over virtual interface architecture") directly relates to the concept of flow control based on available buffer space, which is a fundamental aspect of how the receive window is managed in US 8,060,644.
• Related Applications by the Same Inventors: US7826350B1 ("Intelligent network adaptor with adaptive direct data placement scheme"), being a related application with the same inventors and filing date, is extremely strong prior art. It directly addresses the "adaptive direct data placement scheme" which is a key part of the inventive concept in US 8,060,644, particularly regarding how data is placed into application buffers or OS buffers based on certain criteria.

These references collectively suggest that the individual components of intelligent network adaptors, TCP offload, direct data placement/zero-copy, and various forms of flow control were known in the prior art. The novelty of US 8,060,644 likely lies in the specific combination and interaction of these elements, particularly the end-to-end flow control where the receive window is explicitly increased based on the application consuming data from its buffer, and the handling of application buffers larger than the protocol's flow control limit through windowing and ring buffer mechanisms (as detailed in claim 5).