Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Remote data accessing – Accessing a remote server
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-03
2001-12-25
Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Remote data accessing
Accessing a remote server
C709S230000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334148
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to CD-ROM (Compact Disc ReadOnly Memory) servers, and in particular to a method and a multiprotocol network CD-ROM server to provide for users, connected to different computer networks using various network protocols, shared access to information from any CD-ROM disc inserted into a connected CD-ROM drive.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, all kinds of information is available on CD-ROM discs: from software applications, image collections, illustrations and multimedia shows to encyclopedias, statistics, etc. Companies can use compact discs at low cost to store their own sales material, presentations, documentation, or any other company specific information. One problem is to make all these resources available to all users as in an organization. Users may be located in different workgroups, with different needs, and may even be using different computer systems with different software environment platforms.
CD-ROMs can be shared in many ways. In a small group of people, discs can be interchanged between computers with CD-ROM drives. In workgroups, one computer with a CD-ROM drive can be shared, giving several users access to the currently installed disc. CD-ROM drives and towers may even be connected to an existing file server. A regular PC could also be dedicated as a CD-ROM server.
CD-ROM sharing methods described above have limitations and cause problems. With local CD-ROM drives on every computer, no control over all CD-ROMs is possible, and no all-time access, no unlimited network, no multiple platform support, no flexible placing of CD-ROM drives (just local), and no easy disc updates and administration are provided. If workgroup sharing of computers with CD-ROM drives is used, the same problems and limitations remain, as if local CD-ROM drives on every computer are used, except that the unlimited network and the flexible placing of CD-ROM drives are within a workgroup. As described above, the CD-ROM drives can be connected to an existing file server. If this configuration is used, control over all CD-ROMs is provided, the all time access depends on the server, the network is unlimited, the multiple platform support depends on the server, the flexibility in placing CD-ROM drives is at the file server, and it depends on the server, whether easy disc updates and administration are possible. If a regular PC is dedicated as a CD-ROM server control over all CD-ROMs is possible. All-time access and unlimited network are provided, but multiple platform support is not provided by default, and no flexible placing of CD-ROM drives is possible since a PC is needed as server.
State of the art CD-ROM servers intended to provide users connected to a network are completely dependent on the functionality of a regular file server, and consequently they can not work as a stand-alone device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of prior art system solutions as mentioned above.
The present invention provides a method and a multiprotocol network CD-ROM server for providing users connected to different computer networks using various network protocols, which networks are attached to said multi-protocol network CD-ROM server regardless of other file servers and their locations, with shared access to information from any CD-ROM disc inserted into a connected CD-ROM drive. A module network in the CD-ROM server contains a protocol stack. The module network receives a data packet from a sender via the computer network.
The module network finds out the transport protocol used in said packet by identifying the contents of the packet. Referring to the contents an appropriate network submodule creates a so called inpacket according to the transport protocol used. The module network activates a module job, which is responsible for executing a decoding job. An application protocol dependent module decodes the packet and translates the contents into file system operations according to the application protocol used.
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Bannura Patrik
Gren Martin
Lindgren Patrik
Sandström Stefan
Axis AB
Cary Charles C.
Cary & Kelly LLP
Dinh Dung C.
Trim Nkosi
LandOfFree
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