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EP0555997A2
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Apparatus and methods for implementing protocols
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1993-02-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-02-04
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods for communicating using protocols. The apparatus and methods employ protocol descriptions written in a device-independent protocol description language. A protocol is executed by employing a protocol description language interpreter to interpret the protocol description. Communication using any protocol for which there is a protocol description may be done by means of a general protocol. The general protocol includes a first general protocol message which includes a protocol description for a specific protocol. The protocol apparatus which receives the first protocol message employs a protocol description language interpreter to interpret the included protocol description and thereby to execute the specific protocol. The protocol apparatus may also be made to adapt to its environment by encaching protocol descriptions which were received in an earlier first general protocol message and interpreting an encached protocol description in response to a second general protocol message which includes a protocol identifier specifying the encached protocol description.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerard Johan Holzmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/03; H04L69/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of communicating in a distributed system, the method being characterized by the steps of: in a first entity of the distributed system, receiving a first general protocol message which includes a protocol description which describes a specific protocol, the protocol description employing a protocol description language which is independent of any particular implementation of the first entity; and responding to the first general protocol message by employing first protocol description interpretation means capable of interpreting the protocol description language to interpret the protocol description as required to communicate using the specific protocol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of communicating set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that: the step of responding to the first general protocol message includes the step of checking the first general protocol message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of communicating set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that: the step of responding to the first general protocol message includes the step of interpreting protocol data transferred according to the specific protocol according to a parameter confined in the first general protocol message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of communicating set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that: the parameter specifies the byte order employed in the protocol data; and the step of interpreting protocol data interprets the protocol data according to the byte order specified in the parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of communicating set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that: the parameter specifies the word size employed in the protocol data; and the step of interpreting protocol data interprets the protocol data according to the word size employed in the protocol data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of communicating set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that: in a second protocol apparatus, sending the first general protocol message from the second protocol apparatus to the first protocol apparatus; and employing the specific protocol to communicate with the first protocol apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method set forth in claim 6 further characterized by: in the first entity, receiving a second general protocol message which includes a protocol specifier specifying the protocol description; responding to the second general protocol message by determining whether the specified protocol description is accessible to the first entity; if the specified protocol description is accessible, employing the first protocol description interpretation means to interpret the specified protocol description; but if the specified protocol description is not accessible, sending a first error message and thereupon performing the step of receiving the first general protocol message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
Protocol apparatus (301) for communicating in a distributed system, the apparatus being characterized by: means (305) for receiving a first general protocol message, the first general protocol message including a protocol description (203) which describes a specific protocol and which employs a protocol description language which is independent of any particular implementation of the protocol apparatus; and means (209) for responding to the first general protocol message which are capable of interpreting the protocol description language and which interpret the protocol description as required to communicate using the specific protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that: the means for receiving further checks the first general protocol message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that: the first general protocol message includes a parameter (415) for interpreting protocol data transferred according to the specific protocol; and the means for responding to the first general protocol message interprets the protocol data according to the parameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that: the protocol apparatus further includes error handling means (307); the means for receiving the first general protocol message further receives a second general protocol message including a protocol specifier (1307) specifying the protocol description; and the means for responding to the first general protocol message further responds to the second general protocol message by determining whether the specified protocol description is accessible and if the specified protocol description is accessible, interpreting the specified protocol description, but if the specified protocol description is not accessible, sending a first error message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for communicating in a distributed system, the apparatus being characterized by: first protocol apparatus (301) for communicating using a general protocol and second protocol apparatus (301) for communicating using the general protocol, the first protocol apparatus including means (209,903) for providing a first general protocol message which includes a protocol description (203) which describes a specific protocol and which employs a protocol description language which is independent of any particular implementation of the second protocol apparatus; and means (209,907) for employing the specific protocol to communicate with the second protocol apparatus after providing the first general protocol message; and the second protocol apparatus including means (301) for receiving the first general protocol message from the first protocol apparatus; and means (209) for responding to the first general protocol message which are capable of interpreting the protocol description language and which interpret the protocol description as required to communicate using the specific protocol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
Peripheral apparatus for communicating information using a protocol, the apparatus being characterized by: means (111) for transferring the information according to the protocol; means (105) for transferring the information between the peripheral apparatus and a host device; means (309) independent of the host device for storing a protocol description (203) which describes the protocol and which employs a protocol description language which is independent of any particular implementation of the peripheral apparatus; and protocol description interpretation means (303) which is independent of the host device and which is capable of interpreting the protocol description language for interpreting the protocol description as required to transfer the information according to the protocol via the means for transferring the information according to the protocol and to transfer the information via the means for providing the information to the host device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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