How to Send Data Streams Independently Without Connection Overload
A method for sending multiple streams of data between devices using independent, reliable paths that keep data in the correct order without needing a constant connection.
Original patent title: “Reliable datagram via independent source destination resources”
A method for sending multiple streams of data between devices using independent, reliable paths that keep data in the correct order without needing a constant connection. Granted to Hewlett Packard Development Co LP in 2011 with 27 claims and 42 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2028.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system for moving data between a source and a destination using multiple independent 'Source and Destination Resources' (SDRs). Each SDR acts as a dedicated, reliable channel that guarantees the data arrives in the exact order it was sent, even though the overall system remains 'connectionless' from the perspective of the applications. By using multiple independent SDRs, the system can assign different priority levels to different data streams. For example, a high-priority stream for real-time control data can be processed faster than a lower-priority stream for background logs, all while ensuring that each stream maintains its own internal sequence integrity.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that require a traditional persistent TCP connection between the source and destination.
- Does not cover methods where data ordering is not guaranteed at the destination.
- Does not cover communication architectures that rely on a single, shared resource for all data traffic.
- Does not cover data transmission methods that do not use the specific 'unit of work' abstraction defined in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The system achieves 'reliable' and 'ordered' delivery while remaining 'connectionless' to the application. It offloads the complexity of sequencing and retransmission to the SDR layer, allowing applications to send data without managing the underlying communication state.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
High-performance computing clusters
Enterprise data center interconnects
Distributed storage area networks
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In large-scale data centers and high-performance computing, managing traffic is difficult. If all data uses one path, a slow process can block everything. This patent provides a way to isolate streams so that one application's data flow does not interfere with another's, which is essential for maintaining predictable performance in complex networked systems.
Filed
January 7, 2008
Granted
March 8, 2011
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Hewlett Packard Enterprise continues to develop high-performance networking and server infrastructure that manages complex data traffic. The concepts of independent, prioritized data channels are fundamental to modern software-defined networking (SDN) and RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) technologies used by major cloud providers.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the evolution of traffic management in enterprise hardware, allowing for more granular control over Quality of Service (QoS). It helped move the industry toward more efficient, resource-isolated communication fabrics that can handle diverse workloads on shared physical infrastructure.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system for moving data between a source and a destination using multiple independent 'Source and Destination Resources' (SDRs). Each SDR acts as a dedicated, reliable channel that guarantees the data arrives in the exact order it was sent, even though the overall system remains 'connectionless' from the perspective of the applications. By using multiple independent SDRs, the system can assign different priority levels to different data streams. For example, a high-priority stream for real-time control data can be processed faster than a lower-priority stream for background logs, all while ensuring that each stream maintains its own internal sequence integrity.
The clever bit
The system achieves 'reliable' and 'ordered' delivery while remaining 'connectionless' to the application. It offloads the complexity of sequencing and retransmission to the SDR layer, allowing applications to send data without managing the underlying communication state.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that require a traditional persistent TCP connection between the source and destination.
- Does not cover methods where data ordering is not guaranteed at the destination.
- Does not cover communication architectures that rely on a single, shared resource for all data traffic.
- Does not cover data transmission methods that do not use the specific 'unit of work' abstraction defined in the claims.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
33/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
18/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$82K – $262K
Midpoint $164K · 1.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
27 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Krause, M. R., Iyer, S. G., & Worley, F. B. (2011). How to Send Data Streams Independently Without Connection Overload (U.S. Patent No. 7,904,576). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7904576/reliable-datagram-via-independent-source-destination-resources
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Send Data Streams Independently Without Connection Overload cover?
A method for sending multiple streams of data between devices using independent, reliable paths that keep data in the correct order without needing a constant connection.
Who owns patent US 7904576?
Hewlett Packard Development Co LP owns this patent, granted in 2011.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 7, 2028, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7904576 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 42 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
In large-scale data centers and high-performance computing, managing traffic is difficult. If all data uses one path, a slow process can block everything. This patent provides a way to isolate streams so that one application's data flow does not interfere with another's, which is essential for maintaining predictable performance in complex networked systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that require a traditional persistent TCP connection between the source and destination.
Patent monitoring