Data communications device with resident link adapter

Claim 2

In a data communications device having an address and arranged for use in a data communications system having a network management system controller, the data communications device arranged for receiving a message comprising a plurality of words from the network management system controller in accordance with a predetermined method, the predetermined method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first word; (b) determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; (c) if the first word contains the predetermined value, then receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words; (d) determining whether an error has been received based on the value of the sixth and seventh words and a predetermined algorithm; (e) determining whether the value of the second word is >0; (f) if the value of the second word is >0, then: receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word; and, determining whether an error has been received based on the value of the last two subsequent words and the predetermined algorithm; (h) determining whether the third and fourth words contain the address; (i) if the third and fourth words contain the address, then processing at least one received word; wherein each received word is asynchronous.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein each received word includes 10 bits, comprising a start bit, 8 data bits, and a stop bit.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the first word is start of text or STX.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein the predetermined algorithm is a 16-bit cyclic redundancy check (CRC).

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the data communications device is a modem.

Claim 7

In a data communications device having an address and arranged for use in a data communications system having a network management system controller, the data communications device arranged for receiving a message comprising a plurality of words from the network management system controller in accordance with a predetermined method, the predetermined method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first word; (b) determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; (c) if the first word contains the predetermined value, then receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth words; (d) determining whether an error has been received based on the value of the sixth word and a predetermined algorithm; (e) determining whether the value of the second word is >0; (f) if the value of the second word is >0, then: receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word; and, determining whether an error has been received based on the value of the last subsequent word and the predetermined algorithm; (h) determining whether the third and fourth words contain the address; (i) if the third and fourth words contain the address, then processing at least one received word; wherein each received word is asynchronous.

Claim 8

In a data communications device having an address and arranged for use in a data communications system having a network management system controller, the data communications device arranged for receiving a message comprising a plurality of words from the network management system controller in accordance with a predetermined method, the predetermined method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a first word; (b) determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; (c) if the first word contains the predetermined value, then receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth words; (d) determining whether an error has been received based on the value of the sixth word and a predetermined algorithm; (e) determining whether the value of the second word is >0; (f) if the value of the second word is >0, then: receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word; and, determining whether an error has been received based on the value of the last subsequent word and the predetermined algorithm; (h) determining whether the third and fourth words contain the address; (i) if the third and fourth words contain the address, then processing at least one received word; wherein each received word is asynchronous.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein each received word includes 10 bits, comprising a start bit, 8 data bits, and a stop bit.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 wherein the first word is start of text or STX.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined algorithm is an 8-bit block character check (BCC).

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein the data communications device is a modem.

Claim 13

A data communications device having an address and capable of communicating with a network management system controller, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one remote data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to a local channel; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the system controller; wherein the receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth word and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last subsequent word received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 14

A data communications device having an address and capable of communicating with a network management system controller, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one remote data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to a local channel; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the system controller; wherein the receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth word and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last subsequent word received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 15

A data communications device having an address and capable of communicating with a network management system controller, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one remote data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to a local channel; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the system controller; wherein the receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth and seventh words and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last two subsequent words received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 16

A data communications device having an address and capable of communicating with a network management system controller, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one remote data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to a local channel; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the system controller; wherein the receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth and seventh words and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last two subsequent words received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 17

A shelf capable of mounting at least one data communications device and having an interface unit, the interface unit capable of coupling to a network management system controller via a local channel and capable of coupling to the at least one data communications device, the data communications device having an address, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one other data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to the interface unit; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the network management system controller; wherein the data communications device receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth word and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last subsequent word received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 18

A shelf capable of mounting at least one data communications device and having an interface unit, the interface unit capable of coupling to a network management system controller via a local channel and capable of coupling to the at least one data communications device, the data communications device having an address, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one other data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to the interface unit; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the network management system controller; wherein the data communications device receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth word and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last subsequent word received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 19

A shelf capable of mounting at least one data communications device and having an interface unit, the interface unit capable of coupling to a network management system controller via a local channel and capable of coupling to the at least one data communications device, the data communications device having an address and, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one other data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to the interface unit; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the network management system controller; wherein the data communications device receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth and seventh words and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last two subsequent words received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.

Claim 20

A shelf capable of mounting at least one data communications device and having an interface unit, the interface unit capable of coupling to a network management system controller via a local channel and capable of coupling to the at least one data communications device, the data communications device having an address and, the data communications device comprising: data communication means for communicating with at least one other data communications device via a telephone line, and means for interfacing with at least one data terminal equipment; means for coupling to the interface unit; means for receiving messages from a network management system controller according to a predetermined receive method via the local channel; means for sending messages to the network management system controller according to a predetermined transmit method via the local channel, the receiving means and the sending means capable of communicating directly with the network management system controller; wherein the data communications device receiving means comprises: means for receiving a first word; means for determining whether the first word contains a predetermined value; means for receiving a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh words if the first word contains the predetermined value; means for determining whether the second, third, fourth and fifth words contain an error based on the value of the sixth and seventh words and a predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the second word is >0; means for receiving a predetermined number of subsequent words based on the value of the second word if the value of the second word is >0; means for determining whether the subsequent words contain an error based on the value of the last two subsequent words received and the predetermined algorithm; means for determining whether the value of the third and fourth words contain the address; means for processing at least one received word if the value of the third and fourth words contain the address.