Hybrid mode network stack under EFI/Tiano based BIOS in modular computing environment

摘要

A method of transmitting data through network stack choosing one of a synchronous and an asynchronous mode depending on requests of applications. The method may involve changing frequencies of a timer, for example, adjusting the frequency in the asynchronous Application Programming Interface (API) according to a load of network traffic and even stopping the timer for the synchronous API. In the asynchronous API, as heavier network traffic load is expected, the timer may increase its frequency. Accordingly, the timer decreases its frequency detecting the lighter network traffic and the remaining Central Processing Unit (CPU) cycles may be used to execute the foreground task, while the network stack still may respond to Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests. As the application tries to receive packets, for example, downloading a large volume of data, such as the kernel of an Operating System (OS), the network stack may even shut down the timer temporarily and switch to a synchronous mode to improve overall system performance. Here, the network stack may use a busy waiting signal to notify its status.