A framework for dynamic protocol configuration

Traditional end-system protocols are not able to support the wide range of quality of Service (QoS) requirements of existing and emerging distributed multimedia applications on top of current networks. The aim of protocol con figuration in Da CaPo (Dynamic Configuration of Protocols) is to combine fi ne granular software and hardware building blocks at runtime in such a mann er that the resulting protocol configuration fulfills the application requi rements and needs as less resources as possible. Main features of Da CaPo i nclude a formal model, a new approach for specifying application requiremen ts as objective functions, and a unified module interface that allows synta ctically unconstrained configuration of software and hardware building bloc ks. The performance evaluation of the prototype implementation demonstrates that the overhead introduced by the flexible approach is marginal compared to modules that access multiple bytes in each packet. Thus, decreasing pro tocol complexity by configuring appropriate protocols distinctly increases protocol performance. Furthermore, the flexible approach is able to support the broad range of QoS requirements and is open for future developments.