Apparatus and method for transmitting packet IP offload

1. A method for transmitting a packet in a packet transmitting apparatus on Internet Protocol, IP offload including a main control unit, MCU, a cache memory, a Media Access Control, MAC header creating unit, an IP header creating unit, an Address Resolution Protocol, ARP request header creating unit, an ARP response header creating unit, and a Transmission Control Protocol, TCP header and data creating unit, comprising the steps of:

a) simultaneously transmitting a header creation request for TCP/IP packet transmission from the main control unit to the MAC header creating unit and the IP header creating unit;

b) transmitting an IP header creation response notifying that the IP header creating unit starts transmitting a header to the MAC header creating unit;

c) when the MAC header creating unit receives an IP header creation response signal for TCP/IP packet transmission from the IP header creating unit, transmitting the MAC header and requesting the IP header creating unit to start transmitting the IP header,

d) when the IP header creating unit receives an IP header transmission request from the MAC header creating unit, requesting TCP header transmission to the TCP header and data creating unit;

e) when the IP header creating unit receives a response that the TCP header is completely transmitted from the TCP header and data creating unit, transmitting an IP header transmission response to the MAC header creating unit; and

f) transmitting a header creation response notifying that the MAC header creating unit completely transmits a TCP/IP packet to the main control unit.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

g) simultaneously transmitting an ARP transmission request for ARP request packet transmission from the main control unit to the MAC header creating unit and the ARP request header creating unit;

h) transmitting an ARP request header creation response notifying that the ARP request header creating unit starts transmitting a header to the MAC header creating unit;

i) when the MAC header creating unit receives an ARP request header creation response from the ARP request header creating unit, transmitting the MAC header and requesting ARP request header transmission to the ARP request header creating unit;

j) when the ARP request header creating unit transmits the ARP request header upon request of the MAC header creating unit, transmitting a response notifying that the ARP request header is completely transmitted to the MAC header creating unit; and

k) transmitting an ARP transmission response notifying that an ARP request packet is completely transmitted from the MAC header creating unit to the main control unit.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

l) when the MAC header creating unit receives an ARP reception request from the ARP response header creating unit, transmitting the MAC header and requesting ARP response header transmission to the ARP response header creating unit; and

m) when the ARP response header creating unit transmits an ARP response header upon request of the MAC header creating unit, transmitting a transmission completion response to the MAC header creating unit.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

n) when the MAC header creating unit receives an Internet Control Message Protocol, ICMP creation request from the main control unit, requesting ICMP transmission to the TCP header and data creating unit; and

o) when the MAC header creating unit receives a response notifying transmission completion from the TCP header and data creating unit, transmitting an ICMP creation response to the main control unit.