Patent EP0598510A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0598510A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for adaptively determining the format of data packets carried on a local area network
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-28
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus by which an interactive network board can determine which of plural frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication on a local area network. A prescanning software module simultaneously binds itself through a link support layer to each of the plural frame packet types and then deactivates itself. The LAN communication network is then monitored for broadcast traffic so as to capture a LAN frame packet, whereupon the link support layer provides data groups for the captured frame packet, each of the data groups corresponding to a different one of the plural frame packet types. The prescanner is reactivated so as to prescan each data group for a predetermined IPX header, and determines the frame packet type in correspondence to the data group having the predetermined IPX header. The prescanner is operative in a multiprotocol network environment in which two different LAN operating systems having respectively different operating protocols, such as Novell-compatible and UNIX-compatible operating systems, both carry on LAN communication on a single network bus. In this case, the prescanner repeats operations for each of the different operating protocols.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Kalwitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/407; H04L12/413; H04L69/00; H04L69/22; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/325; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of determining which of plural predetermined frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication on a local area network, comprising the steps of: capturing a LAN frame packet on the local area network; prescanning the captured frame packet to determine which one of the plural frame packet types corresponds to the captured LAN packet; and storing the frame type corresponding to the captured LAN frame packet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein said prescanning step comprises the step of prescanning the captured frame for the presence of a predetermined header.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 2, wherein, in said storing step, the frame type corresponding to the presence of the predetermined header is stored.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining which of plural predetermined frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication on a local area network, comprising the steps of: configuring a LAN communication module to bind simultaneously to the plurality of frame packet types; monitoring a LAN communication bus to capture broadcast traffic; providing, from the LAN communication module, a data group for the captured broadcast traffic corresponding to each packet type; prescanning each data group for the presence of a predetermined header; and storing the frame type corresponding to the data group having the predetermined header.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to Claim 4, further comprising the step of executing a prescanning module, the prescanning module configuring the LAN communication module to bind simultaneously to each of the plural frame packet types and the prescanning module for prescanning of the data groups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 5, wherein said prescanning module simultaneously binds a link support layer to each of the plural frame packet types.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 6, wherein the frame packet types are selected from the group consisting of Ethernet 802.2, Ethernet II, Ethernet 802.3 and Ethernet SNAP.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 4, wherein said monitoring step monitors the LAN communication bus for broadcast traffic to any LAN destination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to Claim 4, wherein, in said prescanning step, each data group is examined for IPX header information.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
164 words
A method by which an interactive network board can determine which of plural frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication on a local area network, comprising the steps of: downloading a prescanning software module from a ROM on the interactive network board to a first area of a RAM on the interactive network board, and initiating execution of the prescanning software module out of the RAM; simultaneously binding the prescanning software module through a link support layer to each of the plural frame packet types; deactivating the prescanning software module; monitoring the LAN communication network for broadcast traffic so as to capture a LAN frame packet; providing, via the link support layer, a data group for the captured frame packet corresponding to each of the plural frame packet types; reactivating the prescanning software module so as to prescan each data group for a predetermined IPX header; and storing the frame type corresponding to the data group having the predetermined IPX header.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to Claim 10, further comprising the step of freeing the first area in the RAM so as to permit overwriting of the prescanning software module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to Claim 10, further comprising the step of downloading an IPX network communication program from the ROM into the RAM and configuring the IPX network communication program to bind to the stored frame packet type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for adaptively determining which of predetermined plural frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication, comprising: an interactive network board for interfacing between a peripheral and the local area network, said interactive network board being connectable to a peripheral via a peripheral interface, and being connectable to the local area network via a local area network interface; a processing unit, disposed on said board, for executing stored program instruction process steps; and a memory on said board for storing process steps for execution by said processing unit, said memory including process steps to capture a LAN frame packet on the local area network, to prescan the captured frame packet, to determine which of the plural frame packet types corresponds to the captured frame packet, and to store the frame type corresponding to the captured LAN frame packet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said memory includes process steps to prescan the captured frame packet for the presence of a predetermined header.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said memory stores process steps to execute a link support layer to the network interface, and process steps to bind the link support layer simultaneously to each of the plural frame packet types.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein said memory further stores process steps for executing an internetwork packet exchange ("IPX") module and wherein said predetermined header is comprised by IPX information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein said processing unit configures the IPX module to bind to the stored frame packet type.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for adaptively determining which of plural predetermined frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication on a local area network, comprising: a local area network interface; a link support layer ("LSL") for supporting linkage with the network interface by providing a data group for captured frame packet communications on the network interface which correspond to a setable frame packet type; a memory for storing a frame packet type; and a prescanner for simultaneously binding the link support layer to each of the plural frame packet types, for receiving data groups for a captured frame packet and corresponding to each of the plural frame packet types, for scanning the received data groups for the presence of a predetermined header, and for storing the frame packet type in said memory in correspondence to the data group having the predetermined header.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 18, further comprising an internetwork packet exchange ("IPX") module, wherein the predetermined header is comprised by IPX header information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein the IPX module binds to the frame packet type stored in said memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a network communication system having a local area network bus carrying data packets for first and second operating systems having respectively different operating protocols, a method for determining which of plural frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication, comprising the steps of: a first capturing step of capturing a first frame packet from the first operating system on the local area network; a first prescanning step of prescanning the captured first frame packet to determine which one of the plural frame packet types corresponds to the captured frame packet; a first storing step of storing the frame type corresponding to the captured first frame packet; a second capturing step of capturing a second frame packet from the second operating system on the local area network; a second prescanning step of prescanning the captured second frame packet to determine which one of the plural frame packet types corresponds to the captured frame packet; and a second storing step of storing the frame type corresponding to the captured second frame packet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 21, wherein said first and second prescanning steps each comprises the step of prescanning the captured frame packet for the presence of a predetermined header.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 22, wherein, in said first and second storing steps, the frame type corresponding to the presence of the predetermined header is stored.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of determining which of plural predetermined frame packet types is currently being used in a multiprotocol LAN communication system operating on a single local area network, comprising the steps of: a first configuring step of configuring a LAN communication module to bind simultaneously to a plurality of first protocol frame packet types; a first monitoring step of monitoring a LAN communication bus to capture first protocol broadcast traffic; a first providing step of providing plural data groups for the captured first protocol broadcast traffic from the LAN communication module, each of the data groups corresponding to a different one of the packet types; a first prescanning step of prescanning each data group for the presence of a predetermined header; a first storing step of storing a first protocol frame type corresponding to the data group having the predetermined header; a second configuring step of configuring the LAN communication module to bind simultaneously to a plurality of second protocol frame packet types; a second monitoring step of monitoring the LAN communication bus to capture second protocol broadcast traffic; a second providing step of providing plural data groups for the captured second protocol broadcast traffic from the LAN communication module each of the data groups corresponding to a different one of the packet types; a second prescanning step of prescanning each data group for the presence of a predetermined header; and a second storing step of storing the second protocol frame type corresponding to the data group having the predetermined header.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to Claim 24, further comprising the step of executing a prescanning module, the prescanning module configuring the LAN communication module to bind simultaneously to each of the plural frame packet types and the prescanning module for prescanning of the data groups.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to Claim 25, wherein said prescanning module simultaneously binds a link support layer to each of plural frame packet types.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 26, wherein the frame packet types are selected from the group consisting of Ethernet 802.2, Ethernet II, Ethernet 802.3 and Ethernet SNAP.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 24, wherein said first and second monitoring steps monitor the LAN communication bus for broadcast traffic to any LAN destination.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 24, wherein the first protocol includes Novell-compatible protocol and wherein, in said first prescanning step, each data group is examined for IPX header information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 24, wherein the second protocol includes UNIX-compatible protocol and wherein, in said second prescanning step, each data group is examined for TCP/IP header information.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
361 words
A method by which an interactive network board can determine which of plural frame packet types is currently being used in a multiprotocol network environment on a local area network, comprising the steps of: downloading a prescanning software module from ROM on the interactive network board to a first area of RAM on the interactive network board and initiating execution of the prescanning software module out of RAM; a first binding step for simultaneously binding the prescanning software module through a link support layer to each of plural first protocol frame packet types each corresponding to a first network operating system; a first deactivating step for deactivating the prescanning software module; a first monitoring step for monitoring the LAN communication network for broadcast traffic so as to capture a first protocol frame packet; a first providing step for providing, via the link support layer, plural data groups for the captured first protocol frame packet, each of the data groups corresponding to a different one of the plural first protocol frame packet types; a first reactivating step for reactivating the prescanning software module so as to prescan each data group for a predetermined first protocol header; a first storing step for storing the frame type corresponding to the data group having the predetermined first protocol header; a second binding step for simultaneously binding the prescanning software module through the link support layer to each of plural second protocol frame packet types each corresponding to a second network operating system; a second deactivating step for deactivating the prescanning software module; a second monitoring step for monitoring the LAN communication network for broadcast traffic so as to capture a second protocol frame packet; a second providing step for providing, via the link support layer, plural data groups for the captured frame packet, each of the data groups corresponding to a different one of the plural second protocol frame packet types; a second reactivating step for reactivating the prescanning software module so as to prescan each data group for a predetermined second protocol header; and a second storing step for storing the frame type corresponding to the data group having the predetermined second protocol header.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to Claim 31, wherein the first network operating system includes a Novell-compatible operating system, and wherein said first reactivating step prescans each data group for the presence of a predetermined IPX header.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to Claim 32, further comprising the step of downloading an IPX network communication program from the ROM into the RAM and configuring the IPX network communication program to bind to the frame packet type stored in said first storing step.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to Claim 31, wherein the second network operating system includes a UNIX-compatible operating system, and wherein said second reactivating step prescans each data group for the presence of a predetermined TCP/IP header.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to Claim 34, further comprising the step of downloading a TCP/IP network communication program from the ROM into the RAM and configuring the TCP/IP network communication program to bind to the frame packet type stored in said second storing step.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a network communication system having a local area network bus carrying Novell-compatible data packets and UNIX-compatible data packets, apparatus for determining which of plural frame packet types is currently being used for LAN communication, comprising: a LAN interface, coupled to the bus, for receiving communications from the LAN; and a processor for (1) capturing a Novell-compatible frame packet on the local area network through said interface, (2) prescanning the Novell-compatible captured frame packet to determine which one of the plural frame packet types corresponds to the captured LAN packet, (3) storing the Novell-compatible frame type corresponding to the captured LAN frame packet, (4) capturing a UNIX-compatible frame packet on the local area network through said interface, (5) prescanning the UNIX-compatible captured frame packet to determine which one of the plural frame packet types corresponds to the captured LAN packet, and (6) storing the UNIX-compatible frame type corresponding to the captured LAN frame packet.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
A network interface card for a peripheral device, comprising the technical features necessary for discriminating between frame types in implementing a method or apparatus according to any preceding claim.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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