EP0767564A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protocol reconfiguration in a network interface device
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A network interface device which can communicate with other devices via a local area network (LAN) using various protocols and frame types, and which can be remotely reconfigured to use different protocols and frame types. The network interface device includes a LAN interface that receives packets including address and data information from the LAN and transmits packets to the LAN. The network interface device also includes a processor that (i) executes an initialization routine to load protocol stack modules and to assign a frame type for each of the loaded protocol stack modules based on configuration information regarding the protocols and frame types used on the LAN, (ii) determines whether a packet received from the LAN is a configuration packet by detecting whether the received packet is addressed to a predetermined address, and (iii) alters the configuration information using the data in the configuration packet, in response to a determination that the received packet is a configuration packet, and changes the configuration of at least one of (i) the loaded protocol stacks and (ii) the frame type assignments based on the altered configuration information.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew J. Kraslavsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for reconfiguring frame type assignments for protocol stack modules in a network interface device which is interfaced to a local area network (LAN), said method comprising the steps of: executing an initialization process which loads protocol stack modules and assigns frame types to each of the loaded protocol stack modules based on configuration information regarding the protocols and frame types used on the LAN; receiving packets including data and address information from the LAN; determining whether a received packet is a configuration packet by detecting whether the packet is addressed to a predetermined address; altering the configuration information using the data in the configuration packet, in response to a determination that the received packet is a configuration packet; and changing the configuration of at least one of (i) the loaded protocol stack modules and (ii) the frame type assignments for the network interface device based on the altered configuration information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein the predetermined address comprises a protocol-specific identifying stamp, and wherein said determining step includes detecting whether a received packet is addressed to the protocol-specific identifying stamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method according to Claim 2, wherein the protocol-specific identifying stamp comprises (i) a predetermined socket when the configuration packet uses an IPX/SPX protocol, (ii) a predetermined port when the configuration packet uses a TCP/IP protocol, and (iii) a predetermined DDP type when the configuration packet uses an AppleTalk protocol, and wherein said determining step includes detecting whether a received packet is addressed to any of the predetermined socket, the predetermined port, or the predetermined DDP type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the configuration information indicates which protocol stack modules should be loaded, and wherein the data in the configuration packet can alter the configuration information so that different protocol stack modules are loaded when the initialization process is reexecuted.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the data in the configuration packet indicates whether the configuration packet corresponds to a set packet or a query packet, and wherein said method further comprises determining whether a configuration packet is a set packet or a query packet and, in response to a determination that the configuration packet is a query packet, transmitting to the LAN a response packet including data indicating current protocol stack module status and current frame type assignments.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
64 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the network interface device includes a peripheral server and wherein said method further comprises determining whether a received packet is addressed to the peripheral server and, in response to a determination that the received packet is addressed to the peripheral server, routing the received packet to the peripheral server and servicing the data in the packet.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
48 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the configuration packet includes data indicating whether or not an immediate reboot is desired, and said changing step comprises reexecuting the initialization process using the altered configuration information when the configuration packet data indicates that an immediate reboot is desired.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
A network interface device which can communicate with other devices via a local area network (LAN) using various protocols and frame types, and which can be remotely reconfigured to use different protocols and frame types, said network device comprising: a LAN interface that receives packets including address and data information from the LAN and transmits packets to the LAN; and a processor that (i) executes an initialization routine to load protocol stack modules and to assign a frame type for each of the loaded protocol stack modules based on configuration information regarding the protocols and frame types used on the LAN, (ii) determines whether a packet received from the LAN is a configuration packet by detecting whether the received packet is addressed to a predetermined address comprising a media access control address of said network interface device and a predetermined identifying stamp, and (iii) alters the configuration information using the data in the configuration packet, in response to a determination that the received packet is a configuration packet, and changes the configuration of at least one of (i) the loaded protocol stacks and (ii) the frame type assignments based on the altered configuration information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A network interface device according to Claim 8, wherein the configuration packet includes data indicating whether or not an immediate reboot is desired and said processor determines whether an immediate reboot is desired and, when said processor determines that an immediate reboot is desired, changes the configuration of the network interface device by reexecuting the initialization routine using on the altered configuration information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A network interface device according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein said network interface device further comprises a storage device that stores the configuration information regarding which protocols and frame types are used on the LAN and wherein said processor executes the initialization process based on the stored configuration information and alters the stored configuration information in response to a determination that a received packet is a configuration packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A network interface device according to Claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the predetermined address comprises a protocol-specific identifying stamp, and wherein said processor detects whether a received packet is addressed to the protocol-specific identifying stamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A network interface device according to Claim 11, wherein the protocol-specific identifying stamp comprises (i) a predetermined socket when the configuration packet uses an IPX/SPX protocol, (ii) a predetermined port when the configuration packet uses a TCP/IP protocol, and (iii) a predetermined DDP type when the configuration packet uses an AppleTalk protocol, and wherein said processor detects whether a received packet is addressed to any of the predetermined socket, the predetermined port, or the predetermined DDP type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A network interface device according to any of Claims 8 to 12, wherein the data in the configuration packet indicates whether the configuration packet corresponds to a set packet or a query packet, and wherein said processor also determines whether a configuration packet is a set packet or a query packet and, in response to a determination that the configuration packet is a query packet, transmits a response packet including data indicating current protocol stack module status and current frame type assignments to the LAN.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A network interface device according to any of Claims 8 to 13, wherein said processor also (i) executes a peripheral server software module, (ii) determines whether a received packet is addressed to the peripheral server software module, and (iii) services the data in the received packet in response to a determination that the received packet is addressed to the peripheral server module.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for transmitting new configuration information regarding active protocols and frame type assignments to a network interface device connected to a local area network (LAN) from a computer which is connected to the LAN and which has a display device, said method comprising: inputting to the computer new configuration information indicating protocol stacks to be loaded on the network interface device and frame type assignments for each of the loaded protocol stacks; forming a communication packet including destination address information identifying the network interface device, address data identifying the packet as a configuration packet, and the input configuration information; and transmitting the configuration packet to the network interface device via the LAN.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method according to Claim 15, further comprising the steps of: transmitting from the computer to the network interface device via the LAN a query packet including destination address information identifying the network interface device, address data identifying the packet as a configuration packet, and data indicating a request for current configuration information; receiving from the network interface device a response packet including current configuration information indicating the current active protocol stacks and the current frame type assignments for the network interface device; and displaying the current configuration information received from the network interface device on the display device of the computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein the computer uses a predetermined protocol, and wherein the address data identifying the packet formed in said forming step as a configuration packet is a protocol-specific identifying stamp corresponding to the predetermined protocol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to Claim 17, wherein the computer uses one of an IPX/SPX protocol, a TCP/IP protocol, and an AppleTalk protocol, and wherein the address data identifying the packet formed in said forming step as a configuration packet is (i) a predetermined socket, when the computer uses an IPX/SPX protocol, (ii) a predetermined port, when the computer uses a TCP/IP protocol, and (iii) a predetermined DDP type, when the computer uses an AppleTalk protocol.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
81 words
A method according to any of Claims 15 to 18, wherein said inputting step includes inputting data indicating whether the new configuration information should be implemented immediately or at the next initialization of the network interface device and, when the input data indicates that the new configuration information should be implemented immediately, said forming step includes setting data in the configuration packet indicating that the network interface device should execute an initialization process using the configuration information in the configuration packet.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
63 words
A method according to any of Claims 15 to 19, wherein the network interface device includes a peripheral server and said method further comprises forming a packet including destination address information identifying the network interface device, address data identifying the peripheral server, and data to be serviced by the peripheral server and transmitting the packet to the network interface device via the LAN.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer which is connected to a local area network (LAN) and which transmits, to a network interface device connected to the LAN, new configuration information regarding protocol stacks to be loaded in the network interface device and frame type assignments for the loaded protocol stacks, said computer comprising: a LAN interface for transmitting and receiving communication packets to and from the LAN; an inputting device for inputting to the computer new configuration information indicating protocol stacks to be loaded in the network interface device and frame type assignments for each of the loaded protocol stacks; and a processor that (i) forms a communication packet including destination address information identifying the network interface device, address data identifying the packet as a configuration packet, and the input configuration information, and (ii) transmits the communication packet to the network interface device via said LAN interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer according to Claim 21, wherein said computer further comprises a display device and wherein said processor (i) transmits to the network interface device via said LAN interface a query packet including destination address information identifying the network interface device, address data identifying the packet as a configuration packet, and data indicating a request for current configuration information, (ii) processes a response packet which is received from the network interface device via said LAN interface and which includes current configuration information indicating the currently loaded protocol stacks and the current frame type assignments for the network interface device, and (iii) displays the current configuration information received from the network interface device on the display device of the computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer according to Claim 21, wherein said computer uses a predetermined protocol, and wherein the address data identifying the packet formed by said processor as a configuration packet is a protocol-specific identifying stamp corresponding to the predetermined protocol.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
A computer according to Claim 23, wherein said computer uses one of an IPX/SPX protocol, a TCP/IP protocol, and an AppleTalk protocol, and wherein the address data identifying the packet formed by said processor as a configuration packet is (i) a predetermined socket, if said computer uses an IPX/SPX protocol, (ii) a predetermined port, if said computer uses a TCP/IP protocol, and (iii) a predetermined DDP type, if said computer uses an AppleTalk protocol.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
147 words
A computer which is connectable to a local area network (LAN) and which is operable to transmit, to a network interface device connected to the LAN, new configuration information regarding protocol stacks to be loaded in the network interface device and frame type assignments for the loaded protocol stacks, said computer comprising: a LAN interface for transmitting and receiving communication packets to and from the LAN; an inputting device for inputting to the computer new configuration information indicating protocol stacks to be loaded in the network interface device and frame type assignments for each of the loaded protocol stacks; and a processor adapted to (i) form a communication packet including destination address information identifying the network interface device, address data identifying the packet as a configuration packet, and the input configuration information, and (ii) transmit the communication packet to the network interface device via said LAN interface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
200 words
A network interface device which can communicate with other devices via a local area network (LAN) using various protocols and frame types, and which can be remotely reconfigured to use different protocols and frame types, said network device comprising: a LAN interface operable to receive packets including address and data information from the LAN and operable to transmit packets to the LAN; and a processor operable (i) to execute an initialisation routine to load protocol stack modules and to assign a frame type for each of the loaded protocols stack modules based on configuration information regarding the protocols and frame types used on the LAN, (ii) to determine whether a packet received from the LAN is a configuration packet by detecting whether the received packet is addressed to a predetermined address comprising a media access control address of said network interface device and a predetermined identifying stamp, and (iii) to alter the configuration information using the data in the configuration packet, in response to a determination that the received packet is a configuration packet, and change the configuration of at least one of (i) the loaded protocol stacks and (ii) the frame type assignments based on the altered configuration information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
A data carrying medium conveying instructions for programmable processing apparatus such that, when the instructions are loaded into the apparatus, the apparatus is configured as a computer according to any of claims 21 to 25 or to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 7 or 15 to 20.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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