Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-01
2002-08-27
Le, N. (Department: 2858)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
C709S220000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06442612
ABSTRACT:
PRIORITY CLAIMED
This application claims the benefit of priority to Swedish Application No. 9900516-7, filed on Feb. 17, 1999, entitled, Device And Method For Communication Over A Network, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a system for communication over a network and comprising a network application, a network protocol stack having protocols, for transmission control and path control, and further comprising a Medium Access Control layer (MAC layer) for transforming information for communication between the system and the network.
The invention also relates to two devices forming part of the system and to a method for communication over a network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for communication over a network of the above-mentioned type are commonly known, e.g. network interface cards (NIC), and are usually used to connect peripheral units such as printers, scanners, and CD units to a network. However, according to this solution the manufacturer and the developer of peripheral units are highly dependent on the NIC supplier since an enhancement or a further development of the peripheral unit in many cases leads to the need for implementation of a new interface for the NIC. This might give rise to heavy expenses and be highly time-consuming. Even if the manufacturer of the peripheral unit only wants to make changes in the way the unit is presented to other network units, it is usually necessary for the NIC supplier to be involved.
Other known devices for communication over a network are network cards. These are commonly used to connect a powerful system, such as a computer or a server, to the network. Therefore, only a MAC layer is normally implemented on the network card. The information to be sent over the network is transformed by the network card to suit the network. If the unit intended for communication over a network should be able to utilize such a network card, its internal system must be able to handle a large amount of extra program code. However, the usually small amount of free internal system resources, which is left when the unit is optimized for its purpose, is not sufficient to handle said extra program code.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to point out a solution to the above-mentioned problems by granting a manufacturer of network application devices greater liberty to develop new network application devices or develop existing network application devices further, resulting in less cost and time-consumption for the development or the further development and enabling the manufacturer to use an existing internal system of a network application device without losing the advantages mentioned above.
These objects as well as other objects that will become apparent from the following description, are now achieved by a system of the type mentioned by way of introduction and further comprising the features in the claims.
According to the invention the system comprises two devices, namely a network application device and a network interface device. The network application device can be a device of any kind, for example, a printer, an industrial robot, a control unit or a gauge for a process, that is intended to be connected to a network for sending information thereto or for receiving information from equipment connected to the network. The network application device comprises a network application which for example may be formed by any of the protocols for http, Telnet, FTP, SNMP or SMTP, and a network API (Application Programming Interface), which for example may be a Berkeley sockets API, a Winsock
2
API or a Java Sockets API.
The network interface device is situated between the network application device and the network, and it comprises a protocol stack which for example may comprise protocols for TCP/IP, NetWare, NetBIOS/NetBEUI or AppleTalk, and a MAC layer, which for example may be an implementation of CSMA/CD, Token bus or Token ring. Between these two devices, a physical interface is provided, which makes it possible to transmit information between the two devices.
The invention gives rise to a number of advantages. Manufacturers of applications will be able to easily implement new or altered applications and protocols on top of the existing protocol stack without any involvement of the manufacturer of network interface devices. It will also be possible to henceforth use an existing internal system or an existing CPU, because of the fact that most processor and memory requiring parts regarding network communication, such as the protocol stack, are situated in the network interface unit, and new protocol standards may be added by the manufacturer of network interface devices without the need for the manufacturer of applications to reprogram or rebuild the network application device.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, a network application programming interface (API) is provided in the network application device between the network application and the physical interface with respect to information transport. One advantage thereof is that development and testing of network applications may be performed from almost any platform, as long as it is able to use the same network API as the network application device.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a packet-based protocol is provided in connection with the physical interface for communication between the network application device and the network interface device. One specific advantage thereof is that no changes of a logical interface or the physical interface are required during development, enhancement and updating of e.g. the protocol stack, the network application or the application. Another advantage thereof is that no change is required in the network application when enhancements are added to the protocol stack.
According to another advantageous embodiment, the physical interface is of the type having two co-acting interface means, which admit simple connection with and disconnection from each other. Consequently, each device of the system can be tested separately. Also, initial tests of the network application device can be performed by an application simulated in a computer.
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Int'l Search Report PCT/SE 00/00259 Int'l Filing date Feb. 10, 2000 Applicant: AXIS AB et al.
1998 Int'l Zurich Seminar on Broadband Comm., 1998. Transmission, Networking. Proceedings, Pronk V. et al.: “A performance analysis of the Bit-Map access protocol for shared-medium networks”, pp. 69-73, abstract, sect. 1.
Hugosson Fredrik
Ripa Harald
Axis AB
Benson Walter
Cary Charles C.
Cary & Kelly LLP
Le N.
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