Add a variation of "get_classical" that can receive a message from any host

[SDABIS]

Hi.
I'm trying to implement a simple network with QuNetSim, but I'm having trouble with the function "get_classical".
I want my nodes to listen to incoming messages, but "get_classical" requires that I indicate which host to listen to. My current solution is to create a loop with every possible other host and call "get_classical" with a small "wait_time", but this seems like a poor solution.
Is there a way to listen to any classical packet (in my example there is no need for this functionality for quantum channels) sent by any host?
Thank you.

[lavanya-m-k]

I would like to work on this issue. Can you please assign it to me?

[stephendiadamo]

Sure will do.

[stephendiadamo]

Before implementing this feature, since it's a bit tricky, it would be good if you write out how you plan to solve it first. I can give you some tips on how it can be done.

[san-gh]

@stephendiadamo can I open a PR too since this issue is still open?

[stephendiadamo]

@lavanya-m-k what's your status with this one? Do you have a solution in mind?

@san-gh I have to check if we can reward two people with the same prize. I guess it's fine to make a PR too. But it would be good to know in advance how you plan to solve this one, since it's a bit tricky.

Thanks

[san-gh]

Ok so, regarding the approach.
What I have understood up till about the workings of get_classical without a seq_num is that for wait=0 it synchronously fetches all the msgs of the particular host and for wait > 0 it puts in a request with the ClassicalStorage and waits using queue's timeout. And these requests are resolved when a new message is added to the ClassicalStorage.

Since the requirement is to listen for messages from any host, I want to specifically make a new function get_classical_any_host so that after it starts listening it returns the messages from the last host that sent a msg to the ClassicalStorage. For that, I want to create a variable last_msg_added_to_host in the ClassicalStorage that gets updated when a new message is added. I would want to use this host_id in _get_all_from_sender & _get_with_seq_num_from_sender. I hope that since the message adding and servicing requests happen within the same critical section, it should not create any thread-related issues.

How does this sound? @stephendiadamo
Please let me know if I understood it correctly or some hints at a better approach.

[stephendiadamo]

That sounds pretty good to me. And it incorporates waiting for such a message to arrive?

For the PR we'll need to add a test case as well, since it is a library function rather than a one-off simulation.

@san-gh

[san-gh]

Yes, I will incorporate wait using a queue timeout the same way as get_classical.

Ok, so will it be enough to add test cases to ./integration_tests/test_classical_storage.py and integration_tests/host.py?
@stephendiadamo

[stephendiadamo]

@san-gh yes that will be fine for the tests. Thanks!

[lavanya-m-k]

@stephendiadamo I was occupied with other issues till now. Will start this today and post my approach soon. If @san-gh already has a solution and wants to create PR @san-gh can proceed with that.

[san-gh]

Hey @stephendiadamo , sorry to bother you but could you please assign this issue to me ? And if it has been solved to your satisfaction mark it as closed ?