Patent ID: 8706855
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling an operating state of a network interface in a computer system, comprising: in response to receiving a request from an application to use the network interface for a route, creating a route structure for the route; and incrementing a route reference counter in an interface data structure for the network interface; upon determining that the application is no longer using the route, setting a route expiration timer in the route structure to a predetermined expiration time; upon determining that the route expiration timer has expired, deleting the route structure and decrementing the route reference counter in the interface data structure; and upon determining that decrementing the route reference counter in the interface data structure has caused the route reference counter to be equal to zero, sending a signal to a configuration application to inform the application that the network interface can be idled.