Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Remote data accessing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-27
2003-12-02
Meky, Moustafa M. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Remote data accessing
C709S236000, C709S250000, C709S219000, C709S241000, C710S062000, C710S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06658459
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer peripheral devices, and more particularly to network devices and methods that enable the sharing of peripheral devices with multiple clients over a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, computer users have enjoyed substantial flexibility in the way their computers are equipped. This flexibility is primarily due to the increased use of peripheral devices, which allow computer users to purchase only those hardware devices that make sense for their particular work requirements. In fact, the variety of available peripheral devices is ever increasing, which necessarily requires that they be well integrated with the computer's existing software. Although most peripheral device manufactures are able to provide excellent software drivers that enable the full functionality of the peripheral devices when they are connected to a local computer, other computers that are coupled to the same network are generally not able to access or utilize those peripheral devices.
With this in mind,
FIG. 1A
shows a network diagram
100
having several computers
102
connected to a server computer
104
. In this arrangement, the computers
102
function as client computers which are capable of storing and retrieving information from the server computer
104
. In this example, the server computer
104
has a SCSI adapter card
106
which enables it to communicate with SCSI peripheral devices
108
a
through
108
c.
The server computer
104
also includes specialized software for handling communication between the client computers
102
a
through
102
d
and the SCSI peripheral devices
108
a
through
108
c.
FIG. 1B
shows a prior art block diagram of several functional blocks implemented by the server computer
104
. In this simplified example, the server computer
104
includes an operating system
120
, which is in communication with a file manager
122
. The file manager
122
is capable of communicating with a network manager
124
and several local managers, including a tape drive manager
126
, a hard disk manager
127
, a CDROM manager
128
, and a special (scanner) manager
129
.
The local managers are thus capable of communicating with files and data that may be stored in a data storage unit
130
. A controller
132
is shown in communication with the data storage
130
and the SCSI adapter card
106
of FIG.
1
A. The SCSI adapter card
106
therefore communicates with the peripheral devices
108
a
through
108
c.
As further shown in
FIG. 1B
, the server computer
104
is connected to a network via an Ethernet adapter
136
, which communicates with the network manager
124
.
By implementing the server computer
104
arrangement, it is possible for the client computers
102
a
through
102
d
to communicate with the server computer
104
and access one or more of the peripheral devices
108
a
through
108
c.
That is, a client computer
102
will typically couple up to a network through its own Ethernet adapter card which enables communication to the Ethernet adapter
136
of the server computer
104
. In this manner, data can then be transferred between the various network computers by passing standard Ethernet packets.
Although it is possible for the client computers
102
a
through
102
d
to access the server
104
in order to access to the peripheral devices
108
a
through
108
c,
the cost associated with purchasing and setting up the server
104
for the sole purpose of sharing several peripheral devices can be quite large. For example, file servers generally require specialized network operating system software, and a network administrator to continuously manage the operation of the server computer
104
and the various clients that are interacting with that server computer
104
. In addition, special storage and office space allocation must be made in order to properly manage, network, and manage the server computer
104
.
Thus, even though this arrangement may work in some large corporate environments, the sharing of the peripheral devices
108
a
through
108
c
via a specialized server computer
104
can be prohibitively expensive for small office environments as well as home office networks. Alternatively, the users of a small network may purchase redundant peripheral devices for each computer. Of course, this may not make sense if only several computers are networked together and a single peripheral device can fill the needs of the several network computer users.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a network device and a method that enables several client computers that are networked together to share remotely networked peripheral devices without employing expensive server computer systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly speaking, the present invention fills these needs by providing a method, a system, and an apparatus for transparently sharing remotely networked peripheral devices with local client computers. The method and apparatus advantageously eliminates the need for expensive server computer systems that are solely used for peripheral device sharing. Thus, client computers of the present invention are able to access peripheral devices that are remotely coupled to a shared network as if the peripheral devices were actually connected to each local client computer system. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, a method, or a computer readable medium. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below.
In one embodiment, a method for accessing a remote peripheral device from a client computer is disclosed. The client computer has a network adapter for connecting to a network. The method includes generating a request through an operating system of the client computer, and encapsulating the request in a TCP/IP packet. The method further includes transmitting the TCP/IP packet through the network adapter to a translation adapter that is configured to decode the TCP/IP packet back into the request that is then passed to the peripheral device that is connected to the translation adapter. Preferably, the transmitting of the TCP/IP packet through the network adapter includes sending the TCP/IP packet to a transport driver interface before the TCP/IP packet is passed to the network adapter of the client computer.
In another embodiment, a system for establishing a communication link between a client computer and a peripheral device that is remotely networked to the client computer is disclosed. The system includes a translation adapter that is networked with the client computer through a first network adapter of the translation adapter. The translation adapter further includes a SCSI controller that connects to the peripheral device. The system further includes a SCSI-to-TCP/IP driver that is loaded on the client computer and configured to detect when the translation adapter is networked to the client computer, and is further configured to generate a TCP/IP packet. In addition, the system includes a second network adapter that is connected to the client computer and configured to receive the TCP/IP packet that is generated by the SCSI-to-TCP/IP driver. The second network adapter is further configured to transmit the TCP/IP packet to the first network adapter of the translation adapter, and the translation adapter is configured to translate the TCP/IP packet into a SCSI command that is communicated to the peripheral device that is connected to the translation adapter.
In yet a further embodiment, an apparatus for establishing a data transfer link between a client computer and a peripheral device that is remotely networked to the client computer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a translation means that is networked with the client computer through a first Ethernet controller of the translation means. The translation means further includes a SCSI controller that is physically coupled to the peripheral device. A SCSI-t
Ding Yafu J.
Kwan Tony G.
Adaptec, Inc.
Martine & Penilla LLP
Meky Moustafa M.
Salad Abdullahi E.
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