US5280481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Local area network transmission emulator
Assignee: Microcom Systems Inc
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Filing: 1991-09-20
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Granted: 1994-01-18
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Expires: 2011-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for using switched telecommunications services to emulate a local area network (LAN) medium. The method and apparatus convert a public switched network or an equivalent private network into a LAN cabling method for connecting distant devices using the same communications software as used in traditionally wired LANs.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene Y. Chang
- 👤 David B. Richardson
- 👤 Bennett C. Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/28; H04L12/1886; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/901; Y10S370/902; Y10S370/903; Y10S370/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for using a switched network as a data path between devices connected to local area networks (LANs), comprising: receiving a datagram having a LAN source address identifying a source device on its associated LAN and a LAN destination address identifying at least one destination device on its associated LAN from a logical link control or medium access control service layer of the source device; for each of the destination devices, retrieving, from a network definition table having an entry for each device on the switched network, a switched network address corresponding to the LAN destination address and identifying the destination device on the switched network; for each of the destination devices, establishing, based on the switched network address, a connection on at least one physical channel of said switched network for transmittal of said datagram to the destination device; and for each of the destination devices, providing said datagram to said at least one physical channel for transmission to the destination device over the switched network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for using a switched network as a data path between devices connected to local area networks (LANs), comprising: receiving a datagram having a LAN source address identifying a source device on its associated LAN and a LAN destination address identifying at least one destination device on its associated LAN from a logical link control or medium access control service layer of the source device; for each of the destination devices, retrieving, from a network definition table having an entry for each device on the switched network, a switched network address corresponding to the LAN destination address and identifying the destination device on the switched network; for each of the destination devices, establishing, based on the switched network address, a connection on at least one physical channel of said switched network for transmittal of said datagram to the destination device; and for each of the destination devices, providing said datagram to said at least one physical channel for transmission to the destination device over the switched network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing said datagram with information stored in a reference list to determine the datagram type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving a node channel status from the network definition table.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 wherein at least one logical channel receives the datagram and the at least one physical channel of the switched network comprises multiple circuit or packet switched channels which are selectively mapped into one logical channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a single logical channel receives the datagram, the at least one physical channel of the switched network comprises multiple circuit or packet switched channels, and the logical channel is mapped onto the multiple circuit or packet switched channels to provide incremental capacity for datagrams received by the logical channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the received datagram is a low bandwidth datagram that has periodic infrequent arrival characteristics and which is intended for delivery to multiple destination devices, wherein the low bandwidth datagram is delivered to each of the destination devices at a rate less than or equal to an original rate at which the low bandwidth datagram is received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the received datagram is a low bandwidth datagram that has periodic infrequent arrival characteristics and is provided to a physical channel other than the at least one physical channel for which the connection was established.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining at least one logical channel for receiving the datagram while each of the physical channels are disconnected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one physical channel comprises a plurality of circuit or packet switched channels and the connection to said channels is de-established and re-established when datagram traffic patters demand the services of a particular circuit or packet switched channel which is unavailable.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
178 words
A system for using a switched network as a data path between devices connected to local area networks (LANs), comprising: means for receiving a datagram having a LAN source address identifying a source device on its associated LAN and a LAN destination address identifying at least one destination device on its associated LAN from a logical link control or medium access control service layer of the source device; means for retrieving, for each of the destination devices and from a network definition table having an entry for each device on the switched network, a switched network address corresponding to the LAN destination address and identifying the destination device on the switched network; means for establishing, for each of the destination devices and based on the switched network address, a connection on at least one physical channel of said switched network for transmittal of said datagram to the destination device; and means for providing, for each of the destination devices, said datagram to said at least one physical channel for transmission to the destination device over the switched network.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
178 words
A system for using a switched network as a data path between devices connected to local area networks (LANs), comprising: means for receiving a datagram having a LAN source address identifying a source device on its associated LAN and a LAN destination address identifying at least one destination device on its associated LAN from a logical link control or medium access control service layer of the source device; means for retrieving, for each of the destination devices and from a network definition table having an entry for each device on the switched network, a switched network address corresponding to the LAN destination address and identifying the destination device on the switched network; means for establishing, for each of the destination devices and based on the switched network address, a connection on at least one physical channel of said switched network for transmittal of said datagram to the destination device; and means for providing, for each of the destination devices, said datagram to said at least one physical channel for transmission to the destination device over the switched network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising means for comparing said datagram with information stored in a reference list to determine the datagram type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11, further comprising means for retrieving a node channel status from the network definition table.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 11 wherein at least one logical channel receives the datagram and the at least one physical channel of the switched network comprises multiple circuit or packet switched channel which are selectively mapped by means for selectively mapping into one logical channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 11 wherein a single logical channel receives the datagram, that at least one physical channel of the switched network comprises multiple circuit or packet switched channels, and the logical channel is mapped onto the multiple circuit or packet switched channels by means for mapping to provide incremental capacity for datagrams received by the logical channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the received diagram is a low bandwidth datagram that has periodic infrequent arrival characteristics and which is intended for delivery to multiple destination devices, wherein the low bandwidth datagram is delivered to each of the destination devices by means for delivering at a rate less than or equal to an original rate at which the low bandwidth datagam is received.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the received diagram is a low bandwidth datagram that has periodic infrequent arrival characteristics and is provided by means for redirecting to a physical channel other than the at least one physical channel for which the connection was established.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising means for maintaining at least one logical channel for receiving the datagram while each of the physical channels are disconnected.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one physical channel comprises a plurality of circuit or packet switched channels and the connection to said channels is de-established and re-established by means for re-dedicating when datagram traffic patterns demand the services of a particular circuit or packet switched channel which is unavailable.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-17 | 1997-07-19 | 1998-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-17 | 2001-07-19 | 2002-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-17 | 2005-07-19 | 2006-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |