Microsoft patents method to keep network links alive during driver restarts
Microsoft describes a system for data center networks that sends check-in signals more frequently while a network switch is restarting a software driver. This ensures the connection remains active and does not drop during the brief reboot process.
In the filing’s own words
A method, computer program product, and computing system for reducing communication session downtime includes transmitting first signals at a predetermined time interval of X seconds; upon initiation of a reboot operation of a first device associated with the processor, decreasing the predetermined time interval from X seconds to Y seconds; transmitting the first signals at the time interval of Y seconds; and once the reboot of the driver is complete, increasing the predetermined time interval from Y seconds to X seconds.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: transmitting first handshake signals from a top-of-rack (ToR) switch to a tier one (T 1) device according to a predetermined time interval; transmitting, during a reboot operation of a driver on the ToR switch, second handshake signals from the ToR switch to the T 1 device according to a reduced time interval that is less than the predetermined time interval; and transmitting, after completion of the reboot operation, third handshake signals from the ToR switch to the T 1 device according to the predetermine time interval.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING PERMITTED SESSION DOWNTIME
- Publication number
- US20260291859A1
- Application number
- 19696268
- Filed
- Jun 2, 2026
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04L 45/245 Electricity & electronicsH04L 45/28 Electricity & electronicsH04L 67/34 Electricity & electronicsH04L 41/0661 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.