A data communication system is provided. The data communication system includes at least one transmitter that is operable to communicate data packets via a data communication network and/or a data carrier to at least one receiver. The at least one transmitter is operable to include within at least one of the data packets a plurality of mutually different types of data having mutually different priorities. Optionally, the data communication system is operable to communicate to the at least one receiver information that is indicative of the one or more priorities of the plurality of mutually different types of data. Optionally, the data communication system is operable to communicate the information that is indicative of the mutually different priorities of the plurality of mutually different types of data within the at least one of the data packets.

A communication method and apparatus. The method may be applied to a 4G system, a 5G system, and/or a future communication system such as a 6G system. The method includes: a splitting protocol layer entity of a terminal device configures a first sequence number SN of a splitting protocol layer in a first splitting protocol layer data packet, and configures a second SN of the splitting protocol layer in a second splitting protocol layer data packet. The splitting protocol layer entity of the terminal device sends the first splitting protocol layer data packet to a first protocol layer entity corresponding to a first access network device, and sends the second splitting protocol layer data packet to a first protocol layer entity corresponding to a second access network device.

A communication method and apparatus. The method may be applied to a 4G system, a 5G system, and/or a future communication system such as a 6G system. The method includes: a splitting protocol layer entity of a terminal device configures a first sequence number SN of a splitting protocol layer in a first splitting protocol layer data packet, and configures a second SN of the splitting protocol layer in a second splitting protocol layer data packet. The splitting protocol layer entity of the terminal device sends the first splitting protocol layer data packet to a first protocol layer entity corresponding to a first access network device, and sends the second splitting protocol layer data packet to a first protocol layer entity corresponding to a second access network device.

Using high speed data transfer protocol to transfer data between a host and a storage system includes determining if a portion of data is a candidate for being transferred using the high speed data transfer protocol if the portion is not a candidate for high speed data transfer, transferring the data using a relatively low speed data transfer protocol if the portion is a candidate for high speed data transfer, attempting to transfer the data using the high speed data transfer protocol, and if transferring the data using the high speed data transfer protocol is unsuccessful, transferring the data using the relatively low speed data transfer protocol. The high speed data transfer protocol may use a first connection and the relatively low speed data transfer protocol may use a second connection. The first connection may be a PCIe or InfiniBand connection. The second connection may be a FICON connection.

Using high speed data transfer protocol to transfer data between a host and a storage system includes determining if a portion of data is a candidate for being transferred using the high speed data transfer protocol if the portion is not a candidate for high speed data transfer, transferring the data using a relatively low speed data transfer protocol if the portion is a candidate for high speed data transfer, attempting to transfer the data using the high speed data transfer protocol, and if transferring the data using the high speed data transfer protocol is unsuccessful, transferring the data using the relatively low speed data transfer protocol. The high speed data transfer protocol may use a first connection and the relatively low speed data transfer protocol may use a second connection. The first connection may be a PCIe or InfiniBand connection. The second connection may be a FICON connection.

A network device may receive, from a first network, a network packet of a first network packet type that encapsulates a fragment of a second network packet of a second network packet type, where the network packet includes an extension header that indicates a source port and a destination port for the second network packet. The network device may perform an anti-spoof check on the fragment of the second network packet based at least in part on at least one of: the source port or the destination port for the second network packet that is indicated by the extension header. The network device may, based on the fragment passing the anti-spoof check, forward the fragment of the second network packet to a second network.

A network device may receive, from a first network, a network packet of a first network packet type that encapsulates a fragment of a second network packet of a second network packet type, where the network packet includes an extension header that indicates a source port and a destination port for the second network packet. The network device may perform an anti-spoof check on the fragment of the second network packet based at least in part on at least one of: the source port or the destination port for the second network packet that is indicated by the extension header. The network device may, based on the fragment passing the anti-spoof check, forward the fragment of the second network packet to a second network.

A TCP intermediate device receives a SYN packet from a TCP client that is destined for a TCP origin server and indicates support for TCP fast open (TFO). A SYN-ACK packet is transmitted to the TCP client that includes a first TFO cookie set by the TCP intermediate device. An ACK packet is received from the TCP client. A SYN packet is sent to the TCP origin server and a second SYN-ACK packet is received in response that includes a second TFO cookie set by the TCP origin server. An ACK packet to the TCP origin server. Sometime after the TCP connection is completed, a SYN packet from the TCP client is received that includes the first TFO cookie and a payload of data. The TCP intermediate device modifies the SYN packet to include the second TFO cookie and transmits the modified SYN packet to the TCP origin server.

A TCP intermediate device receives a SYN packet from a TCP client that is destined for a TCP origin server and indicates support for TCP fast open (TFO). A SYN-ACK packet is transmitted to the TCP client that includes a first TFO cookie set by the TCP intermediate device. An ACK packet is received from the TCP client. A SYN packet is sent to the TCP origin server and a second SYN-ACK packet is received in response that includes a second TFO cookie set by the TCP origin server. An ACK packet to the TCP origin server. Sometime after the TCP connection is completed, a SYN packet from the TCP client is received that includes the first TFO cookie and a payload of data. The TCP intermediate device modifies the SYN packet to include the second TFO cookie and transmits the modified SYN packet to the TCP origin server.

Various example embodiments for supporting control over fragmentation of packets in communication networks are described. Various example embodiments for supporting control over fragmentation of packets in communication networks may be configured to support control over fragmentation of Internet Protocol (IP) packets. Various example embodiments for supporting control over fragmentation of IP packets in communication networks may be configured to support control over fragmentation of an IP packet based on inclusion of an IP fragmentability header, including information indicative as to whether the IP packet is permitted to be fragmented, within the IP packet. The IP packet may include a header and a payload, where the header includes an IP packet header and the IP fragmentability header including the information indicative as to whether the IP packet is permitted to be fragmented and, optionally, additional information.