US Patent 7623464 Rapid protocol failure detection

A method is disclosed for rapidly detecting a protocol failure. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an indication that a first process has failed. The first process having been engaged in communications over one or more network connections with a second process. A packet is formed, such that the packet appears to have been formed by the first process. The packet includes one or more data values, which, when received and processed by the second process, will cause the second process to close the network connection. The packet is sent to the second process. When the second process receives the packet, the second process to closes the network connection.