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EP0713310A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Network protocol sensor

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1995-10-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-10-30
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Abstract

Abstract A method of determining which of plural protocols are active on a computerized local area network. Each of plural frame types are registered with a link support layer (LSL) which monitors network communications for broadcast frame packets. A frame packet which matches a first one of the frame types is provided from LSL, and protocol header information in the received frame packet is decoded so as to determine protocol used in the frame packet. The first frame type is de-registered from LSL, a first protocol stack corresponding to the determined protocol is initialized using the first frame type, the first protocol stack is loaded, and the first protocol stack registers itself with LSL so that the first protocol stack receives future frame packets which match the first frame type. Thereafter, if LSL encounters any other frame types, the above processing is repeated so as to load and register any other needed protocol stacks.

Inventors

  • 👤 Daniel A. c/o Canon Info Systems Inc. Danknick

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 07:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/90; H04L49/9057; H04L49/901; H04L49/9031; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
A method of determining which of plural protocols are active on a network, comprising the steps of: executing a link support layer (LSL) so as to monitor network communications for broadcast frame packets, LSL being adapted to accept registrations for any one of plural frame types; registering each of the plural frame types with LSL; receiving from LSL a frame packet which matches a first one of the frame types; decoding header information in the received frame packet so as to determine which protocol is used by the frame packet; de-registering the first frame type from LSL; initializing a first protocol stack corresponding to the determined protocol by using the first frame type; loading the first protocol stack; and registering the first protocol stack with LSL so that the first protocol stack receives future frame packets which match the first frame type.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to Claim 1, further comprising the step of executing the first protocol stack so as to broadcast network communications.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 98 words
A method according to Claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving from LSL a frame packet which matches a second one of the frame types; decoding header information in the received frame packet so as to determine which protocol is used by the frame packet; de-registering the second frame type from LSL; initializing a second protocol stack corresponding to the determined protocol by using the second frame type; loading the second protocol stack; and registering the second protocol stack with LSL so that the second protocol stack receives future frame packets which match the second frame type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
A method according to Claim 3, further comprising the steps of checking the first frame type against the second frame type and signalling an error in a case where said decoding step indicates that decoded header information in a second-received frame packet corresponds to the first protocol stack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein said de-registering step is selectively performed such that the first frame type is not de-registered from LSL in a case where the first frame type is an allowable frame type for a protocol stack not already registered with LSL.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 111 words
A method of identifying protocols active on a computer network, wherein a station connected to the network is arranged to perform the steps of: - monitoring the network to receive messages of a plurality of alternative structures provisionally expected to arise on the network, prior to permitting itself to transmit of any such message; - analysing the content of a received message of a first structure to identify a first protocol for the content of the message; and - permitting itself to receive and transmit messages in accordance with said first structure and protocol, while continuing to monitor the network to receive and analyse messages of other structure not yet permitted.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 17 words
A method or apparatus for network communication having the features of any combination of the preceding claims.

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