Patent ID: 6222850
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a network employing Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol for channel access wherein there is a plurality of network nodes and wherein a plurality of data packets is transmitted through a network channel by the nodes, each node including a data processing system having a device driver and an adapter, apparatus for dynamically tuning device drivers in at least one node in full or half-duplex environments for balanced network access by the nodes, comprising:a) means for monitoring data packet collisions on the channel;b) means for calculating a collision rate or the percentage of data packets which were transmitted on the channel with collisions occurring in a preselected time interval;c) means for establishing a collision threshold for each node;d) means for chaining data packets transmitted from the node by a device driver when the collision rate is below the collision threshold regardless of whether the network is in a half or full-duplex environment; andd) means for disabling chaining of data packets when the collision threshold is exceeded on the channel.