A language-based approach to protocol implementation

ABSTRACT

Morpheus is special-purpose programming language that facilitates the efficient implementation of communication protocols. Protocols are divided into three categories, called shapes, so that they can inherit code and data structures based on their category; the programmer implements a particular protocol by refining the inherited structure. Morpheus optimization techniques reduce per-layer overhead on time-critical operations to a few assembler instructions even though the protocol stack is not determined until runtime. This supports divide-and-conquer simplification of the programming task by minimizing the penalty for decomposing complex protocols into combinations of simpler protocols.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications
          Subjects: Specialized application languages

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

  D. Software
  D.1 PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.4 Processors
          Subjects: Optimization

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Experimentation, Languages, Performance