{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854470","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854470","title":"Processing of overlay networks using an accelerated network interface card","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-01-27T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","G06F","G06F","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04W","G06F","H04L","H04L","H04L"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"According to one embodiment, a system includes an accelerated network interface card (NIC), the accelerated NIC including a plurality of network ports including multiple Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) ports, an Overlay Network Offload System (ONOS), the ONOS including logic configured to provide overlay functionality to network traffic received by the accelerated NIC, and logic configured to cause network traffic that has overlay functionality provided by a hypervisor to bypass the ONOS. In another embodiment, a method for accelerating overlay functionality in a server includes providing overlay functionality for at least some network traffic received by an accelerated NIC implemented in a server, wherein the accelerated NIC provides an interface between the server and a network, and causing network traffic that has overlay functionality provided by a hypervisor of the server to bypass the accelerated NIC."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card patent describes a system and method for accelerating overlay network functionality in a server environment. The core innovation lies in offloading overlay network processing from the host CPU to a specialized accelerated network interface card (NIC). This NIC includes an Overlay Network Offload System (ONOS) designed to efficiently handle tasks such as packet encapsulation and decapsulation, thereby freeing up CPU resources and improving overall network performance.\n\nThe problem being solved is the increasing overhead associated with processing overlay networks in modern data centers and cloud computing environments. Traditional server architectures often burden the CPU with handling both application workloads and network processing tasks, leading to network bottlenecks and reduced application performance. This patent offers a solution by introducing an accelerated NIC that can handle overlay network functionality without relying on the host CPU.\n\nThe key technical approach involves the design of the ONOS, which is specifically tailored to handle overlay network functionality. The ONOS includes logic for encapsulating and decapsulating network packets, performing network address translation (NAT), and implementing security policies. By offloading these tasks to the NIC, the server can dedicate more resources to running applications, resulting in improved performance and scalability.\n\nThe business value and applications of this technology are significant. By improving network performance and reducing CPU utilization, the system can enable organizations to deploy more virtual machines per server, reduce infrastructure costs, and improve the overall efficiency of their IT operations. This patent has potential applications in cloud computing, data centers, and enterprise networks.\n\nThe market opportunity for this technology is substantial, driven by the increasing adoption of network virtualization and overlay networks. As organizations continue to migrate their workloads to the cloud, the demand for efficient and scalable network solutions will continue to grow. The Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card patent offers a compelling solution to the challenges posed by modern network virtualization, paving the way for more scalable and efficient network architectures.","layman_explanation":"The Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card patent addresses a common problem in modern data centers and cloud computing: network bottlenecks caused by the increasing complexity of network virtualization. Network virtualization allows companies to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical server, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. However, this virtualization adds overhead, especially when using overlay networks.\n\nOverlay networks are like building a virtual network on top of an existing physical network. Imagine you have a highway system, and you create special lanes for certain types of cars. These special lanes are like an overlay network. The problem is that managing these special lanes requires extra processing power, which can slow down the entire system. Existing solutions often rely on the server's main processor (CPU) to handle this extra processing, which can lead to performance bottlenecks.\n\nThis patent introduces a specialized piece of hardware called an accelerated Network Interface Card (NIC). Think of the NIC as a traffic cop specifically trained to manage the special lanes (overlay networks). This NIC handles the extra processing required by the overlay networks, freeing up the server's CPU to focus on running applications. This results in faster network speeds, reduced latency, and improved overall performance.\n\nWhy does this matter? Faster networks mean faster applications, which translates to better user experiences and increased productivity. By offloading network processing to the NIC, companies can reduce their infrastructure costs and improve the efficiency of their data centers. This technology offers a competitive advantage by enabling companies to deliver faster and more reliable services.\n\nWhat's next? This technology is likely to be adopted by cloud service providers and large enterprises with extensive virtualized environments. Future applications could include support for new overlay network protocols and integration with other hardware acceleration technologies. The market adoption timeline will depend on the availability of compatible hardware and software, but the potential benefits are significant.","technical_analysis":"The Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card patent details a system designed to alleviate the CPU burden in virtualized environments by offloading overlay network processing to a dedicated accelerated network interface card (NIC). The technical architecture revolves around an Overlay Network Offload System (ONOS) integrated within the NIC, which handles encapsulation, decapsulation, and other overlay-related tasks.\n\nThe implementation hinges on the NIC's ability to intercept and process network traffic before it reaches the host CPU. The ONOS contains specialized logic, potentially implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software, to efficiently perform these operations. The patent also highlights a crucial optimization: the ability to bypass the ONOS for traffic already processed by a hypervisor. This prevents redundant processing and further enhances efficiency.\n\nAlgorithmically, the ONOS likely employs optimized algorithms for packet processing, checksum calculation, and other network functions. The integration with the hypervisor is critical, requiring a well-defined interface to determine whether traffic has already been processed. This could involve specific flags in the packet headers or communication via a shared memory region.\n\nFrom a performance perspective, the key advantage is the offloading of CPU-intensive tasks to dedicated hardware. This reduces CPU utilization, allowing the server to handle more virtual machines or applications. The PCIe interface provides high-bandwidth connectivity between the NIC and the host, ensuring minimal latency. Code-level implications involve the development of drivers and libraries to support the accelerated NIC and its ONOS functionality. These drivers must seamlessly integrate with the operating system and hypervisor to ensure proper operation.\n\nThe integration patterns involve a close collaboration between the hardware (NIC) and software (drivers, hypervisor). The system must be designed to handle a variety of overlay network protocols, such as VXLAN and NVGRE. The efficiency of the ONOS depends on the optimization of the underlying algorithms and the utilization of hardware acceleration techniques.","business_analysis":"The Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card patent holds significant business implications for companies involved in cloud computing, data centers, and network infrastructure. The core value proposition is the reduction of CPU overhead associated with overlay network processing, leading to improved server utilization and reduced infrastructure costs.\n\nThe market opportunity is substantial, driven by the increasing adoption of network virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN). As organizations migrate their workloads to the cloud, the demand for efficient and scalable network solutions is growing rapidly. This patent addresses a key bottleneck in virtualized environments, offering a compelling solution for improving network performance and reducing costs.\n\nThe competitive advantage lies in the specialized hardware-based approach to overlay network processing. By offloading these tasks to a dedicated NIC, the system can achieve significantly better performance than traditional software-based solutions. This allows organizations to deploy more virtual machines per server, reducing the overall number of servers required and lowering capital expenditures.\n\nFrom a business model perspective, this technology can be monetized through the sale of accelerated NICs, software licenses, or subscription-based services. The strategic positioning involves targeting cloud service providers, data center operators, and enterprises with large-scale virtualized environments. The revenue potential is substantial, driven by the cost savings and performance improvements that this technology enables.\n\nROI projections indicate that organizations can achieve significant returns on their investment by deploying servers equipped with accelerated NICs based on this patent. The reduced CPU utilization translates into lower energy consumption and reduced operational costs. The improved network performance leads to better application performance and increased user satisfaction.\n\nOverall, the Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card patent offers a compelling business case for companies seeking to optimize their network infrastructure and reduce costs. The market opportunity is large, the competitive advantages are significant, and the revenue potential is substantial.","faqs":null,"topics":["accelerated NIC","overlay networks","network virtualization","data centers","cloud computing"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card - Patent US-9854470","description":"Discover how Processing of Overlay Networks Using an Accelerated Network Interface Card accelerates network processing by offloading tasks to a specialized NIC. Full patent analysis and claims.","keywords":["accelerated NIC","overlay networks","network virtualization","data centers","cloud computing","ONOS","PCIe","patent","patent US-9854470"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854470","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854470","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Processing of overlay networks using an accelerated network interface card\" (US-9854470). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854470","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854470","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854470","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T05:28:22.528Z"}