Transmitting packet from device after timeout in network communications utilizing virtual network connection

Abstract

A method of providing network communications includes spawning a virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided; using the virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device; setting a timer, the timer having a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than an average response time of the destination device; and, upon expiration of the timer, transmitting the packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing network communications, comprising:
 (a) spawning a virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a virtual network connection is provided;   (b) using the virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device;   (c) setting a timer, the timer having a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than an average response time of the destination device; and   (d) upon expiration of the timer, transmitting the packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second node is different from the first node. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol, and the second node is different from the first node. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step (d) comprises transmitting the packet to the second node using the virtual network connection with the second routing protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine is spawned in response to a request for a network connection from an application running on the device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the application runs on the device outside of the virtual machine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virtual machine is created by a monitor in response to a controller that is configured to intercept messages sent to a network adapter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine encapsulates a single hardware network interface of the device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine encapsulates a plurality of hardware network interfaces of the device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a plurality of processing cores. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a video game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a personal computer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a handheld mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing network communications, comprising the steps of:
 (a) spawning a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided;   (b) using the first virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device;   (c) setting a timer, the timer having a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than an average response time of the destination device;   (d) upon expiration of the timer, spawning a second virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the device such that a second virtual network connection is provided; and   (e) using the second virtual network connection, transmitting a packet to a second node using a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second routing protocol is different from the first routing protocol, and wherein the second node is different from the first node. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first virtual machine is spawned in response to a request for a network connection from an application running on the device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the application runs on the device outside of the first virtual machine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first virtual machine encapsulates a single hardware network interface of the device. 
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 (a) a processor;   (b) one or more network adapters providing network capabilities;   (c) one or more computer readable media containing computer executable instructions configured to:
 (i) spawn a first virtual machine that virtualizes network capabilities of the one or more network adapters of the device such that a first virtual network connection is provided, 
 (ii) using the first virtual network connection, transmit a packet to a first node using a first routing protocol for communication to a destination device, 
 (iii) set a timer, the timer having a value corresponding to an amount of time greater than an average response time of the destination device, and 
 (iv) upon expiration of the timer, transmit the packet to a second, different node using the first virtual network connection with a second routing protocol for communication to the destination device.