diff mbox

[API-NEXT,PATCHv6,1/5] api: packet: add support for packet references

Message ID 1483628157-25585-1-git-send-email-bill.fischofer@linaro.org
State New
Headers show

Commit Message

Bill Fischofer Jan. 5, 2017, 2:55 p.m. UTC
Introduce three new APIs that support efficient sharing of portions of
packets.

odp_packet_ref_static() creates an alias for a base packet

odp_packet_ref() creates a reference to a base packet

odp_packet_ref_pkt() creates a reference to a base packet from a supplied
header packet

In addition, two other APIs simplify working with references

odp_packet_is_ref() says whether a packet is a reference

odp_packet_unshared_len() gives the sum of data lengths over all unshared
packet segments. These are the only bytes of the packet that may be
modified safely.

Signed-off-by: Bill Fischofer <bill.fischofer@linaro.org>

---
Changes in v6:
- Miscellaneous formatting corrections
- Minor documentation improvements

Changes in v5:
- Clarified that both input packets to odp_packet_ref_pkt() must be from the
  same pool and results are undefined if they are not.
- Clarified that input(s) to reference create APIs may be references and that
  implementations are free to perform partial or full packet copies if needed
  to support such compound references.
- Removed odp_packet_has_ref() and redefined odp_packet_is_ref() to indicate
  simply whether other handles exist that share bytes with this packet.
- Modified validation tests to reflect the above changes.

Changes in v4:
- Bug fixes
- Expand validation testing to cover extensions on packets with references

Changes in v3:
- Rebased to latest API-NEXT
- Bug fixes
- Eliminate concept of base packets, both references and referenced packets may
  have head extensions as needed
 include/odp/api/spec/packet.h | 172 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 171 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

-- 
2.7.4

Comments

Balasubramanian Manoharan Jan. 9, 2017, 4:08 p.m. UTC | #1
Except for the Minor documentation comment below

Reviewed-by: Balasubramanian Manoharan <bala.manoharan@linaro.org>


On 5 January 2017 at 20:25, Bill Fischofer <bill.fischofer@linaro.org> wrote:
> Introduce three new APIs that support efficient sharing of portions of

> packets.

>

> odp_packet_ref_static() creates an alias for a base packet

>

> odp_packet_ref() creates a reference to a base packet

>

> odp_packet_ref_pkt() creates a reference to a base packet from a supplied

> header packet

>

> In addition, two other APIs simplify working with references

>

> odp_packet_is_ref() says whether a packet is a reference

>

> odp_packet_unshared_len() gives the sum of data lengths over all unshared

> packet segments. These are the only bytes of the packet that may be

> modified safely.

>

> Signed-off-by: Bill Fischofer <bill.fischofer@linaro.org>

> ---

> Changes in v6:

> - Miscellaneous formatting corrections

> - Minor documentation improvements

>

> Changes in v5:

> - Clarified that both input packets to odp_packet_ref_pkt() must be from the

>   same pool and results are undefined if they are not.

> - Clarified that input(s) to reference create APIs may be references and that

>   implementations are free to perform partial or full packet copies if needed

>   to support such compound references.

> - Removed odp_packet_has_ref() and redefined odp_packet_is_ref() to indicate

>   simply whether other handles exist that share bytes with this packet.

> - Modified validation tests to reflect the above changes.

>

> Changes in v4:

> - Bug fixes

> - Expand validation testing to cover extensions on packets with references

>

> Changes in v3:

> - Rebased to latest API-NEXT

> - Bug fixes

> - Eliminate concept of base packets, both references and referenced packets may

>   have head extensions as needed

>  include/odp/api/spec/packet.h | 172 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-

>  1 file changed, 171 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

>

> diff --git a/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h b/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h

> index 4a86eba..9b6681c 100644

> --- a/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h

> +++ b/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h

> @@ -256,6 +256,20 @@ uint32_t odp_packet_seg_len(odp_packet_t pkt);

>  uint32_t odp_packet_len(odp_packet_t pkt);

>

>  /**

> + * Packet unshared data len

> + *

> + * Returns the sum of data lengths over all unshared packet segments. These

> + * are the only bytes that should be modified by the caller. The rest of the

> + * packet should be treated as read only. odp_packet_unshared_len() will be

> + * equal to odp_packet_len() if odp_packet_is_ref() is 0.

> + *

> + * @param pkt Packet handle

> + *

> + * @return Packet unshared data length

> + */

> +uint32_t odp_packet_unshared_len(odp_packet_t pkt);

> +

> +/**

>   * Packet headroom length

>   *

>   * Returns the current packet level headroom length.

> @@ -795,7 +809,7 @@ uint32_t odp_packet_seg_data_len(odp_packet_t pkt, odp_packet_seg_t seg);

>   * data pointers. Otherwise, all old pointers remain valid.

>   *

>   * The resulting packet is always allocated from the same pool as

> - * the destination packet. The source packet may have been allocate from

> + * the destination packet. The source packet may have been allocated from

>   * any pool.

>   *

>   * On failure, both handles remain valid and packets are not modified.

> @@ -848,6 +862,162 @@ int odp_packet_split(odp_packet_t *pkt, uint32_t len, odp_packet_t *tail);

>

>  /*

>   *

> + * References

> + * ********************************************************

> + *

> + */

> +

> +/**

> + * Create a static reference to a packet

> + *

> + * A static reference is used to obtain an additional handle for referring to

> + * a packet so that the storage behind it is not freed until all references to

> + * the packet are freed. This can be used, for example, to support efficient

> + * retransmission processing.

> + *

> + * The intent of a static reference is that both the packet and the returned

> + * reference to it will be treated as read only after this call. Results are

> + * undefined if this restriction is not observed.

> + *

> + * Static references have restrictions but may have performance advantages on

> + * some platforms if the caller does not intend to modify the reference

> + * packet. If modification is needed (e.g., to prefix a unique header onto the

> + * packet) then odp_packet_ref() or odp_packet_ref_pkt() should be used.

> + *

> + * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a static reference is

> + *               to be created.

> + *

> + * @return                    Handle of the static reference packet

> + * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. pkt remains unchanged.

> + */

> +odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref_static(odp_packet_t pkt);

> +

> +/**

> + * Create a reference to a packet

> + *

> + * Create a dynamic reference to a packet starting at a specified byte

> + * offset. This reference may be used as an argument to header manipulation

> + * APIs to prefix a unique header onto the shared payload. The storage

> + * associated with the referenced packet is not freed until all references to

> + * it are freed, which permits easy multicasting or retransmission processing

> + * to be performed. Following a successful call, the shared portions of the

> + * referenced packet packet should be treated as read only. Results are

> + * undefined if this restriction is not observed.

> + *

> + * This operation logically prepends a zero-length header onto the referenced

> + * packet beginning at the specified offset. This header is always drawn from

> + * the same pool as the referenced packet.

> + *

> + * Because references are unique packets, any bytes pushed onto the head of a

> + * reference via odp_packet_push_head() or odp_packet_extend_head() are unique

> + * to this reference and are not seen by the referenced packet or by any other

> + * reference to the same packet. Similarly, any bytes pushed onto the

> + * head of the referenced packet are not visible to any reference created

> + * prior to the push operation.

> + *

> + * Note that the existence of references does not in any way change the

> + * requirement that a single packet handle may only be manipulated by one

> + * thread at a time. The odp_packet_unshared_len() API may be used to

> + * determine the number of bytes starting at offset zero that are unique to

> + * this packet handle. Only these bytes should be considered modifiable. All

> + * other bytes accessible from this handle should be treated as read only.

> + *

> + * The packet used as input to this routine may itself by a reference to some

> + * other packet. Implementations that are unable to support such compound

> + * references without copies MAY perform a partial or full packet copy

> + * operation to return a valid reference in response to this call.

> + *

> + * If the caller does not indend to push a header onto either the returned

> + * reference or the packet being referenced, or otherwise modify either

> + * packet, the odp_packet_ref_static() API may be used. This may be a more

> + * efficient means of obtaining another reference to a packet if both will be

> + * treated as read only.

> + *

> + * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a reference is to be

> + *               created.

> + *

> + * @param offset Byte offset in pkt at which the shared reference is to

> + *               begin. This must be in the range 0..odp_packet_len(pkt)-1.

> + *

> + * @return                    Handle of the reference packet

> + * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. pkt remains unchanged.

> + */

> +odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref(odp_packet_t pkt, uint32_t offset);

> +

> +/**

> + * Create a reference to another packet from a header packet

> + *

> + * Create a dynamic reference to a packet starting at a specified byte offset

> + * by prepending a supplied header packet. The resulting reference consists of

> + * the unshared header followed by the shared referenced packet starting at

> + * the specified offset. This shared portion should be regarded as read

> + * only. The storage associated with the shared portion of the reference is

> + * not freed until all references to it are freed, which permits easy

> + * multicasting or retransmission processing to be performed.

> + *

> + * Because references are unique packets, any bytes pushed onto the head of a

> + * reference via odp_packet_push_head() or odp_packet_extend_head() are unique

> + * to this reference and are not seen by the referenced packet or by any other

> + * reference to the same packet. Similarly, any bytes pushed onto the

> + * head of the referenced packet are not visible to any reference created

> + * prior to the push operation.

> + *

> + * Note that the existence of references does not in any way change the

> + * requirement that a single packet handle may only be manipulated by one

> + * thread at a time. The odp_packet_unshared_len() API may be used to

> + * determine the number of bytes starting at offset zero that are unique to

> + * this packet handle. Only these bytes should be considered modifiable. All

> + * other bytes accessible from this handle should be treated as read only.

> + *

> + * Either packet used as input to this routine may itself by a reference to

> + * some other packet. Implementations that are unable to support such compound

> + * references without copies MAY perform a partial or full packet copy

> + * operation to return a valid reference in response to this call.

> + *

> + * The packets used as input to this routine should be drawn from the same

> + * pool. Results are undefined if this restriction is not observed.

> + *

> + * odp_packet_pool() on the returned reference returns the pool id of the

> + * header packet.

> + *

> + * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a reference is to be

> + *               created.

> + *

> + * @param offset Byte offset in pkt at which the shared reference is to

> + *               begin. Must be in the range 0..odp_packet_len(pkt)-1.

> + *

> + * @param hdr    Handle of the header packet to be prefixed onto pkt to create

> + *               the reference. If this is specified as ODP_PACKET_INVALID,

> + *               this call is equivalent to odp_packet_ref(). The supplied hdr

> + *               must be distinct from pkt and results are undefined if an

> + *               attempt is made to create circular references.


We can add documentation that if 'hdr' or 'pkt' is ODP_PACKET_INVALID
then then api will fail.

> + *

> + * @return       Handle of the reference packet. This may or may not be the

> + *               same as the input hdr packet. The caller should only use this

> + *               handle since the original hdr packet no longer has any

> + *               independent existence.

> + *

> + * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. Both pkt and hdr are unchanged.

> + */

> +odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref_pkt(odp_packet_t pkt, uint32_t offset,

> +                               odp_packet_t hdr);

> +

> +/**

> + * Test if a packet is a reference

> + *

> + * A packet is a reference if any other packet handles exist that share any

> + * data bytes with this packet.

> + *

> + * @param pkt Packet handle

> + *

> + * @retval 0  Packet is not a reference. All bytes in this packet are unshared.

> + * @retval 1  Packet is a reference. One or more other packet handles exist

> + *            that share bytes with this packet.

> + */

> +int odp_packet_is_ref(odp_packet_t pkt);

> +

> +/*

> + *

>   * Copy

>   * ********************************************************

>   *

> --

> 2.7.4

>
Bill Fischofer Jan. 9, 2017, 4:13 p.m. UTC | #2
On Mon, Jan 9, 2017 at 10:08 AM, Bala Manoharan
<bala.manoharan@linaro.org> wrote:
> Except for the Minor documentation comment below

>

> Reviewed-by: Balasubramanian Manoharan <bala.manoharan@linaro.org>

>

> On 5 January 2017 at 20:25, Bill Fischofer <bill.fischofer@linaro.org> wrote:

>> Introduce three new APIs that support efficient sharing of portions of

>> packets.

>>

>> odp_packet_ref_static() creates an alias for a base packet

>>

>> odp_packet_ref() creates a reference to a base packet

>>

>> odp_packet_ref_pkt() creates a reference to a base packet from a supplied

>> header packet

>>

>> In addition, two other APIs simplify working with references

>>

>> odp_packet_is_ref() says whether a packet is a reference

>>

>> odp_packet_unshared_len() gives the sum of data lengths over all unshared

>> packet segments. These are the only bytes of the packet that may be

>> modified safely.

>>

>> Signed-off-by: Bill Fischofer <bill.fischofer@linaro.org>

>> ---

>> Changes in v6:

>> - Miscellaneous formatting corrections

>> - Minor documentation improvements

>>

>> Changes in v5:

>> - Clarified that both input packets to odp_packet_ref_pkt() must be from the

>>   same pool and results are undefined if they are not.

>> - Clarified that input(s) to reference create APIs may be references and that

>>   implementations are free to perform partial or full packet copies if needed

>>   to support such compound references.

>> - Removed odp_packet_has_ref() and redefined odp_packet_is_ref() to indicate

>>   simply whether other handles exist that share bytes with this packet.

>> - Modified validation tests to reflect the above changes.

>>

>> Changes in v4:

>> - Bug fixes

>> - Expand validation testing to cover extensions on packets with references

>>

>> Changes in v3:

>> - Rebased to latest API-NEXT

>> - Bug fixes

>> - Eliminate concept of base packets, both references and referenced packets may

>>   have head extensions as needed

>>  include/odp/api/spec/packet.h | 172 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-

>>  1 file changed, 171 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

>>

>> diff --git a/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h b/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h

>> index 4a86eba..9b6681c 100644

>> --- a/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h

>> +++ b/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h

>> @@ -256,6 +256,20 @@ uint32_t odp_packet_seg_len(odp_packet_t pkt);

>>  uint32_t odp_packet_len(odp_packet_t pkt);

>>

>>  /**

>> + * Packet unshared data len

>> + *

>> + * Returns the sum of data lengths over all unshared packet segments. These

>> + * are the only bytes that should be modified by the caller. The rest of the

>> + * packet should be treated as read only. odp_packet_unshared_len() will be

>> + * equal to odp_packet_len() if odp_packet_is_ref() is 0.

>> + *

>> + * @param pkt Packet handle

>> + *

>> + * @return Packet unshared data length

>> + */

>> +uint32_t odp_packet_unshared_len(odp_packet_t pkt);

>> +

>> +/**

>>   * Packet headroom length

>>   *

>>   * Returns the current packet level headroom length.

>> @@ -795,7 +809,7 @@ uint32_t odp_packet_seg_data_len(odp_packet_t pkt, odp_packet_seg_t seg);

>>   * data pointers. Otherwise, all old pointers remain valid.

>>   *

>>   * The resulting packet is always allocated from the same pool as

>> - * the destination packet. The source packet may have been allocate from

>> + * the destination packet. The source packet may have been allocated from

>>   * any pool.

>>   *

>>   * On failure, both handles remain valid and packets are not modified.

>> @@ -848,6 +862,162 @@ int odp_packet_split(odp_packet_t *pkt, uint32_t len, odp_packet_t *tail);

>>

>>  /*

>>   *

>> + * References

>> + * ********************************************************

>> + *

>> + */

>> +

>> +/**

>> + * Create a static reference to a packet

>> + *

>> + * A static reference is used to obtain an additional handle for referring to

>> + * a packet so that the storage behind it is not freed until all references to

>> + * the packet are freed. This can be used, for example, to support efficient

>> + * retransmission processing.

>> + *

>> + * The intent of a static reference is that both the packet and the returned

>> + * reference to it will be treated as read only after this call. Results are

>> + * undefined if this restriction is not observed.

>> + *

>> + * Static references have restrictions but may have performance advantages on

>> + * some platforms if the caller does not intend to modify the reference

>> + * packet. If modification is needed (e.g., to prefix a unique header onto the

>> + * packet) then odp_packet_ref() or odp_packet_ref_pkt() should be used.

>> + *

>> + * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a static reference is

>> + *               to be created.

>> + *

>> + * @return                    Handle of the static reference packet

>> + * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. pkt remains unchanged.

>> + */

>> +odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref_static(odp_packet_t pkt);

>> +

>> +/**

>> + * Create a reference to a packet

>> + *

>> + * Create a dynamic reference to a packet starting at a specified byte

>> + * offset. This reference may be used as an argument to header manipulation

>> + * APIs to prefix a unique header onto the shared payload. The storage

>> + * associated with the referenced packet is not freed until all references to

>> + * it are freed, which permits easy multicasting or retransmission processing

>> + * to be performed. Following a successful call, the shared portions of the

>> + * referenced packet packet should be treated as read only. Results are

>> + * undefined if this restriction is not observed.

>> + *

>> + * This operation logically prepends a zero-length header onto the referenced

>> + * packet beginning at the specified offset. This header is always drawn from

>> + * the same pool as the referenced packet.

>> + *

>> + * Because references are unique packets, any bytes pushed onto the head of a

>> + * reference via odp_packet_push_head() or odp_packet_extend_head() are unique

>> + * to this reference and are not seen by the referenced packet or by any other

>> + * reference to the same packet. Similarly, any bytes pushed onto the

>> + * head of the referenced packet are not visible to any reference created

>> + * prior to the push operation.

>> + *

>> + * Note that the existence of references does not in any way change the

>> + * requirement that a single packet handle may only be manipulated by one

>> + * thread at a time. The odp_packet_unshared_len() API may be used to

>> + * determine the number of bytes starting at offset zero that are unique to

>> + * this packet handle. Only these bytes should be considered modifiable. All

>> + * other bytes accessible from this handle should be treated as read only.

>> + *

>> + * The packet used as input to this routine may itself by a reference to some

>> + * other packet. Implementations that are unable to support such compound

>> + * references without copies MAY perform a partial or full packet copy

>> + * operation to return a valid reference in response to this call.

>> + *

>> + * If the caller does not indend to push a header onto either the returned

>> + * reference or the packet being referenced, or otherwise modify either

>> + * packet, the odp_packet_ref_static() API may be used. This may be a more

>> + * efficient means of obtaining another reference to a packet if both will be

>> + * treated as read only.

>> + *

>> + * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a reference is to be

>> + *               created.

>> + *

>> + * @param offset Byte offset in pkt at which the shared reference is to

>> + *               begin. This must be in the range 0..odp_packet_len(pkt)-1.

>> + *

>> + * @return                    Handle of the reference packet

>> + * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. pkt remains unchanged.

>> + */

>> +odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref(odp_packet_t pkt, uint32_t offset);

>> +

>> +/**

>> + * Create a reference to another packet from a header packet

>> + *

>> + * Create a dynamic reference to a packet starting at a specified byte offset

>> + * by prepending a supplied header packet. The resulting reference consists of

>> + * the unshared header followed by the shared referenced packet starting at

>> + * the specified offset. This shared portion should be regarded as read

>> + * only. The storage associated with the shared portion of the reference is

>> + * not freed until all references to it are freed, which permits easy

>> + * multicasting or retransmission processing to be performed.

>> + *

>> + * Because references are unique packets, any bytes pushed onto the head of a

>> + * reference via odp_packet_push_head() or odp_packet_extend_head() are unique

>> + * to this reference and are not seen by the referenced packet or by any other

>> + * reference to the same packet. Similarly, any bytes pushed onto the

>> + * head of the referenced packet are not visible to any reference created

>> + * prior to the push operation.

>> + *

>> + * Note that the existence of references does not in any way change the

>> + * requirement that a single packet handle may only be manipulated by one

>> + * thread at a time. The odp_packet_unshared_len() API may be used to

>> + * determine the number of bytes starting at offset zero that are unique to

>> + * this packet handle. Only these bytes should be considered modifiable. All

>> + * other bytes accessible from this handle should be treated as read only.

>> + *

>> + * Either packet used as input to this routine may itself by a reference to

>> + * some other packet. Implementations that are unable to support such compound

>> + * references without copies MAY perform a partial or full packet copy

>> + * operation to return a valid reference in response to this call.

>> + *

>> + * The packets used as input to this routine should be drawn from the same

>> + * pool. Results are undefined if this restriction is not observed.

>> + *

>> + * odp_packet_pool() on the returned reference returns the pool id of the

>> + * header packet.

>> + *

>> + * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a reference is to be

>> + *               created.

>> + *

>> + * @param offset Byte offset in pkt at which the shared reference is to

>> + *               begin. Must be in the range 0..odp_packet_len(pkt)-1.

>> + *

>> + * @param hdr    Handle of the header packet to be prefixed onto pkt to create

>> + *               the reference. If this is specified as ODP_PACKET_INVALID,

>> + *               this call is equivalent to odp_packet_ref(). The supplied hdr

>> + *               must be distinct from pkt and results are undefined if an

>> + *               attempt is made to create circular references.

>

> We can add documentation that if 'hdr' or 'pkt' is ODP_PACKET_INVALID

> then then api will fail.


The intent here is that hdr can be specified as ODP_PACKET_INVALID, in
which case this call is equivalent to odp_packet_ref(). I believe this
was Petri's suggestion, but I have no problem with removing that
feature and requiring that both pkt and hdr be valid packet handles.

>

>> + *

>> + * @return       Handle of the reference packet. This may or may not be the

>> + *               same as the input hdr packet. The caller should only use this

>> + *               handle since the original hdr packet no longer has any

>> + *               independent existence.

>> + *

>> + * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. Both pkt and hdr are unchanged.

>> + */

>> +odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref_pkt(odp_packet_t pkt, uint32_t offset,

>> +                               odp_packet_t hdr);

>> +

>> +/**

>> + * Test if a packet is a reference

>> + *

>> + * A packet is a reference if any other packet handles exist that share any

>> + * data bytes with this packet.

>> + *

>> + * @param pkt Packet handle

>> + *

>> + * @retval 0  Packet is not a reference. All bytes in this packet are unshared.

>> + * @retval 1  Packet is a reference. One or more other packet handles exist

>> + *            that share bytes with this packet.

>> + */

>> +int odp_packet_is_ref(odp_packet_t pkt);

>> +

>> +/*

>> + *

>>   * Copy

>>   * ********************************************************

>>   *

>> --

>> 2.7.4

>>
diff mbox

Patch

diff --git a/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h b/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h
index 4a86eba..9b6681c 100644
--- a/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h
+++ b/include/odp/api/spec/packet.h
@@ -256,6 +256,20 @@  uint32_t odp_packet_seg_len(odp_packet_t pkt);
 uint32_t odp_packet_len(odp_packet_t pkt);
 
 /**
+ * Packet unshared data len
+ *
+ * Returns the sum of data lengths over all unshared packet segments. These
+ * are the only bytes that should be modified by the caller. The rest of the
+ * packet should be treated as read only. odp_packet_unshared_len() will be
+ * equal to odp_packet_len() if odp_packet_is_ref() is 0.
+ *
+ * @param pkt Packet handle
+ *
+ * @return Packet unshared data length
+ */
+uint32_t odp_packet_unshared_len(odp_packet_t pkt);
+
+/**
  * Packet headroom length
  *
  * Returns the current packet level headroom length.
@@ -795,7 +809,7 @@  uint32_t odp_packet_seg_data_len(odp_packet_t pkt, odp_packet_seg_t seg);
  * data pointers. Otherwise, all old pointers remain valid.
  *
  * The resulting packet is always allocated from the same pool as
- * the destination packet. The source packet may have been allocate from
+ * the destination packet. The source packet may have been allocated from
  * any pool.
  *
  * On failure, both handles remain valid and packets are not modified.
@@ -848,6 +862,162 @@  int odp_packet_split(odp_packet_t *pkt, uint32_t len, odp_packet_t *tail);
 
 /*
  *
+ * References
+ * ********************************************************
+ *
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Create a static reference to a packet
+ *
+ * A static reference is used to obtain an additional handle for referring to
+ * a packet so that the storage behind it is not freed until all references to
+ * the packet are freed. This can be used, for example, to support efficient
+ * retransmission processing.
+ *
+ * The intent of a static reference is that both the packet and the returned
+ * reference to it will be treated as read only after this call. Results are
+ * undefined if this restriction is not observed.
+ *
+ * Static references have restrictions but may have performance advantages on
+ * some platforms if the caller does not intend to modify the reference
+ * packet. If modification is needed (e.g., to prefix a unique header onto the
+ * packet) then odp_packet_ref() or odp_packet_ref_pkt() should be used.
+ *
+ * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a static reference is
+ *               to be created.
+ *
+ * @return                    Handle of the static reference packet
+ * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. pkt remains unchanged.
+ */
+odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref_static(odp_packet_t pkt);
+
+/**
+ * Create a reference to a packet
+ *
+ * Create a dynamic reference to a packet starting at a specified byte
+ * offset. This reference may be used as an argument to header manipulation
+ * APIs to prefix a unique header onto the shared payload. The storage
+ * associated with the referenced packet is not freed until all references to
+ * it are freed, which permits easy multicasting or retransmission processing
+ * to be performed. Following a successful call, the shared portions of the
+ * referenced packet packet should be treated as read only. Results are
+ * undefined if this restriction is not observed.
+ *
+ * This operation logically prepends a zero-length header onto the referenced
+ * packet beginning at the specified offset. This header is always drawn from
+ * the same pool as the referenced packet.
+ *
+ * Because references are unique packets, any bytes pushed onto the head of a
+ * reference via odp_packet_push_head() or odp_packet_extend_head() are unique
+ * to this reference and are not seen by the referenced packet or by any other
+ * reference to the same packet. Similarly, any bytes pushed onto the
+ * head of the referenced packet are not visible to any reference created
+ * prior to the push operation.
+ *
+ * Note that the existence of references does not in any way change the
+ * requirement that a single packet handle may only be manipulated by one
+ * thread at a time. The odp_packet_unshared_len() API may be used to
+ * determine the number of bytes starting at offset zero that are unique to
+ * this packet handle. Only these bytes should be considered modifiable. All
+ * other bytes accessible from this handle should be treated as read only.
+ *
+ * The packet used as input to this routine may itself by a reference to some
+ * other packet. Implementations that are unable to support such compound
+ * references without copies MAY perform a partial or full packet copy
+ * operation to return a valid reference in response to this call.
+ *
+ * If the caller does not indend to push a header onto either the returned
+ * reference or the packet being referenced, or otherwise modify either
+ * packet, the odp_packet_ref_static() API may be used. This may be a more
+ * efficient means of obtaining another reference to a packet if both will be
+ * treated as read only.
+ *
+ * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a reference is to be
+ *               created.
+ *
+ * @param offset Byte offset in pkt at which the shared reference is to
+ *               begin. This must be in the range 0..odp_packet_len(pkt)-1.
+ *
+ * @return                    Handle of the reference packet
+ * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. pkt remains unchanged.
+ */
+odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref(odp_packet_t pkt, uint32_t offset);
+
+/**
+ * Create a reference to another packet from a header packet
+ *
+ * Create a dynamic reference to a packet starting at a specified byte offset
+ * by prepending a supplied header packet. The resulting reference consists of
+ * the unshared header followed by the shared referenced packet starting at
+ * the specified offset. This shared portion should be regarded as read
+ * only. The storage associated with the shared portion of the reference is
+ * not freed until all references to it are freed, which permits easy
+ * multicasting or retransmission processing to be performed.
+ *
+ * Because references are unique packets, any bytes pushed onto the head of a
+ * reference via odp_packet_push_head() or odp_packet_extend_head() are unique
+ * to this reference and are not seen by the referenced packet or by any other
+ * reference to the same packet. Similarly, any bytes pushed onto the
+ * head of the referenced packet are not visible to any reference created
+ * prior to the push operation.
+ *
+ * Note that the existence of references does not in any way change the
+ * requirement that a single packet handle may only be manipulated by one
+ * thread at a time. The odp_packet_unshared_len() API may be used to
+ * determine the number of bytes starting at offset zero that are unique to
+ * this packet handle. Only these bytes should be considered modifiable. All
+ * other bytes accessible from this handle should be treated as read only.
+ *
+ * Either packet used as input to this routine may itself by a reference to
+ * some other packet. Implementations that are unable to support such compound
+ * references without copies MAY perform a partial or full packet copy
+ * operation to return a valid reference in response to this call.
+ *
+ * The packets used as input to this routine should be drawn from the same
+ * pool. Results are undefined if this restriction is not observed.
+ *
+ * odp_packet_pool() on the returned reference returns the pool id of the
+ * header packet.
+ *
+ * @param pkt    Handle of the packet for which a reference is to be
+ *               created.
+ *
+ * @param offset Byte offset in pkt at which the shared reference is to
+ *               begin. Must be in the range 0..odp_packet_len(pkt)-1.
+ *
+ * @param hdr    Handle of the header packet to be prefixed onto pkt to create
+ *               the reference. If this is specified as ODP_PACKET_INVALID,
+ *               this call is equivalent to odp_packet_ref(). The supplied hdr
+ *               must be distinct from pkt and results are undefined if an
+ *               attempt is made to create circular references.
+ *
+ * @return       Handle of the reference packet. This may or may not be the
+ *               same as the input hdr packet. The caller should only use this
+ *               handle since the original hdr packet no longer has any
+ *               independent existence.
+ *
+ * @retval ODP_PACKET_INVALID Operation failed. Both pkt and hdr are unchanged.
+ */
+odp_packet_t odp_packet_ref_pkt(odp_packet_t pkt, uint32_t offset,
+				odp_packet_t hdr);
+
+/**
+ * Test if a packet is a reference
+ *
+ * A packet is a reference if any other packet handles exist that share any
+ * data bytes with this packet.
+ *
+ * @param pkt Packet handle
+ *
+ * @retval 0  Packet is not a reference. All bytes in this packet are unshared.
+ * @retval 1  Packet is a reference. One or more other packet handles exist
+ *            that share bytes with this packet.
+ */
+int odp_packet_is_ref(odp_packet_t pkt);
+
+/*
+ *
  * Copy
  * ********************************************************
  *