High performance communication software for standalone embedded systems based on flat memory model

In this paper we simplify the 4.4BSD TCP/IP protocol suite, in support of the design and implementation of embedded high performance communication software. Performance is achieved by employing a flat memory model. The flat memory model does not require protection between user mode and kernel mode. This model corresponds to the environment of current embedded systems. Additionally, we validate a technique called DAP (direct access packet-handler) to improve the performance of processing the upward flow of packets from the network interface to the network protocol layer in the communications software.