EP0289248A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable protocol engine
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1988-04-25
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2008-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A programmable protocol engine having a core central processor that implements a plurality of programmable finite state machines that perform context-dependent operations, and programmable satellite processing units that perform context-free operations. To assist in buffering the two way communications of the protocol engine, a memory is included which interacts with the central processor and the satellite units. The programmability of the protocol engine is achieved by realizing the satellite units with combinations of a processing unit and a memory unit which stores the instructions to be performed by the corresponding processing unit. The sequence of instructions to be performed is drawn from a small unique set of instructions which are adapted particularly to the tasks associated with protocol implementations. Instruction ports are provided for loading the necessary instructions to the satellite units and the central processor, thereby implementing a chosen protocol. To permit use of the protocol engine in environments where a plurality of users are multiplexed onto a single physical link, additional means are provided for storing the state of the finite state machines within the central processor, and for restoring the finite state machines to a previously stored set of states.
Inventors
- 👤 Anjur Sundaresan Krishnakumar
- 👤 Bala Krishnamurthy
- 👤 Kirshan Kumar Sabnani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/387; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/06; H04L69/12; H04L69/18; H04L69/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A protocol engine comprises: a programmable message parser responsive to incoming message signals from a first interface; a programmable message assembler for assembling from incoming message components outgoing message signals for said first interface; and a central control unit coupled to said message parser, to said message assembler and to a second interface, for affecting communications between said first interface and said second interface in accordance with a predefined protocol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A protocol engine comprises: a programmable message parser responsive to incoming message signals from a first interface; a programmable message assembler for assembling from incoming message components outgoing message signals for said first interface; and a central control unit coupled to said message parser, to said message assembler and to a second interface, for affecting communications between said first interface and said second interface in accordance with a predefined protocol.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said message parser comprises: a parser processing unit responsive to said message signals for developing said message components; and a parser control memory interacting with said parser processing unit for storing a sequence of instructions to control operations of said parser processing unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said parser processing unit further comprises an instruction port for entering information into said parser control memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said sequence of instructions comprises a branch instruction adapted for branching into more than two paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said message assembler comprises: an assembler processing unit responsive to said message components for developing said message signals; and an assembler control memory interacting with said assembler processing unit for storing a sequence of instructions to control operations of said assembler processing unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said assembler processing unit further comprises an instruction port for entering information into said assembler control memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sequence of instructions comprises a branch instruction adapted for branching into more than two paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sequence of instructions comprises instructions drawn from a set of seven primitive instructions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central control unit comprises a plurality of finite state machines interacting with one another, responsive to message components of said message parser, and further responsive to signals from said second interface, for developing message components for said message assembler and output signals to said second interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a memory for buffering some of the signals flowing to and from said second interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for storing the states of said plurality of finite state machines and for restoring said plurality of finite state machines to a previously stored set of states.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for loading said apparatus with instructions for implementing said defined protocol, with said instructions belonging to a limited set of instructions, including a branch .... instruction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a data communications system including a programmable protocol engine that contains a message parser unit, a message assembler unit and a central control unit, a method for effecting any predefined protocol comprising the steps of: converting said predefined protocol into a set of instructions for said message parser, a set of instructions for said message assembler, and a set of instructions for said central control unit; and loading each of said sets of instructions to corresponding one of said units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a data communications system including a programmable protocol engine that contains a message parser unit, a message assembler unit and a central control unit, a method for effecting any predefined protocol comprising the steps of: converting said predefined protocol into a set of instructions for said message parser, a set of instructions for said message assembler, and a set of instructions for said central control unit; and loading each of said sets of instructions to corresponding one of said units.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said instructions for said message parser and message assembler units comprises an instruction that branches into more than two parts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said instructions for said central controller are partitioned into sections, with each section designed to realize a prefined finite state machine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for implementing a communications protocol between a first and a second signal port wherein said protocol calls for the carrying out of context-free processes and context-dependent processes, comprising: a programmable first processor responsive to signals arriving at said first signal port for performing some of said context-free processes; a programmable second processor responsive to said first processor and to signals arriving at said second signal port for performing said context-dependent processes to develop output signal of said second port and back signals derived from signals arriving at said second port; and a programmable third processor responsive to said back signals for performing some of said context-free processes to develop output signals of said first signal port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for implementing a communications protocol between a first and a second signal port wherein said protocol calls for the carrying out of context-free processes and context-dependent processes, comprising: a programmable first processor responsive to signals arriving at said first signal port for performing some of said context-free processes; a programmable second processor responsive to said first processor and to signals arriving at said second signal port for performing said context-dependent processes to develop output signal of said second port and back signals derived from signals arriving at said second port; and a programmable third processor responsive to said back signals for performing some of said context-free processes to develop output signals of said first signal port.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said programmable second processor comprises: a port for accepting signals from said programmable first processor and from said second port; a memory responsive to signals appearing at said first port; a plurality of finite state machines interconnected with a data bus and a control bus, with said data bus forming an output port of said programmable second processor for delivering signals to said programmable third processor and to said second port; and a dispatcher responsive to said memory for sending signals to designated finite state machines of said plurality of finite state machines via said data bus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said plurality of finite state machines comprises a plurality of sequencers interconnected with said data bus and said control bus and a memory connected to said data bus that is accessed by each of said sequences.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a data communications system including a programmable protocol engine that contains a message parser unit, a message assembler unit and a central control unit, a method for realizing a predefined protocol partitionable into context-free portions and context-dependent portions comprising the steps of: implementing said context-free portions of said protocol in said message assembler unit and in said message parser unit; and implementing said context-dependent portions in said central control unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a data communications system including a programmable protocol engine that contains a message parser unit, a message assembler unit and a central control unit, a method for realizing a predefined protocol partitionable into context-free portions and context-dependent portions comprising the steps of: implementing said context-free portions of said protocol in said message assembler unit and in said message parser unit; and implementing said context-dependent portions in said central control unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.