Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of packetizing data received from a data source, the method comprising the steps of: accumulating data from the data source into a packet; processing the data to determine whether one or more forwarding conditions has occurred, and if so storing said forwarding conditions in a memory; detecting whether said one or more forwarding conditions are stored in said memory; setting a timer to a first predetermined time period to indicate that at least one of the one or more forwarding conditions has been detected; and if upon the first predetermined time period expiring, no additional data had been received during the first predetermined time period, transmitting the packet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of packetizing data received from a data source, the method comprising the steps of: accumulating data from the data source into a packet; processing the data to determine whether one or more forwarding conditions has occurred, and if so storing said forwarding conditions in a memory; detecting whether said one or more forwarding conditions are stored in said memory; setting a timer to a first predetermined time period to indicate that at least one of the one or more forwarding conditions has been detected; and if upon the first predetermined time period expiring, no additional data had been received during the first predetermined time period, transmitting the packet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1, including the following steps: if during the first predetermined time period before the timer expires at least one bit of additional data is received, resetting the timer to a second predetermined time period; checking whether during the second predetermined time period at least one bit of data is received; and if no data are received during the second predetermined time period, transmitting the packet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined time period and the second predetermined time period are equal in duration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the resetting and checking steps are repeated for one or more subsequent time periods until during one of the one or more subsequent time periods, no data are received.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4, wherein at least two of the first predetermined time period, the second predetermined time period and the one or more subsequent time periods are equal in duration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein presence of a forwarding character is one of the one or more forwarding conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein expiration of an idle timer is one of the one or more forwarding conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the forwarding character is used only for indicating one of the one or more forwarding conditions and is then discarded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the forwarding character is first used to indicate one of the one or more forwarding conditions and then is appended to the packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data source is a serial data source.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for packetizing data received from a data source comprising: a buffer for accumulating data from the data source into a packet; a processor for determining whether one or more forwarding conditions has occurred, and if so for directing said forwarding conditions to a memory; means for detecting whether one or more forwarding conditions is stored in said memory; a timer set to a first predetermined time period if at least one of the one or more forwarding conditions has been detected; and a transmitter for transmitting the packet if during the first predetermined time period before the timer expires, no additional data are received.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for packetizing data received from a data source comprising: a buffer for accumulating data from the data source into a packet; a processor for determining whether one or more forwarding conditions has occurred, and if so for directing said forwarding conditions to a memory; means for detecting whether one or more forwarding conditions is stored in said memory; a timer set to a first predetermined time period if at least one of the one or more forwarding conditions has been detected; and a transmitter for transmitting the packet if during the first predetermined time period before the timer expires, no additional data are received.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 11, such apparatus further comprising means for resetting the timer to a second predetermined time period if during the first predetermined time period before the timer expires at least one bit of additional data is received; checking means for determining whether during the second predetermined time period at least one bit of data has been received; and transmitting means for transmitting the packet if no data are received during the second predetermined time period.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of packetizing data received from a serial data source, the method comprising the steps of: accumulating data from the serial data source into a packet; processing the data to determine whether a first set of one or more forwarding conditions has occurred, and if so setting a first forwarding flag stored in a memory on to indicate that the first set has occurred; detecting whether said first forwarding flag stored in the memory has been set on, and if so setting a timer to a first predetermined time period; and detecting whether any additional data were received during the first predetermined time period, and if no additional data were received and the first forwarding flag had been set on, transmitting the packet.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of packetizing data received from a serial data source, the method comprising the steps of: accumulating data from the serial data source into a packet; processing the data to determine whether a first set of one or more forwarding conditions has occurred, and if so setting a first forwarding flag stored in a memory on to indicate that the first set has occurred; detecting whether said first forwarding flag stored in the memory has been set on, and if so setting a timer to a first predetermined time period; and detecting whether any additional data were received during the first predetermined time period, and if no additional data were received and the first forwarding flag had been set on, transmitting the packet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 13, including the following steps: if during the first predetermined time period at least one bit of additional data is received, resetting the timer to a second predetermined time period; checking whether during the second predetermined time period at least one bit of data is received; detecting whether during the second predetermined period a second set of forwarding conditions has occurred and if the second set has occurred setting a second forwarding flag on to indicate that the second set has occurred; and if no data are received during the second predetermined time period and if at least one of the first forwarding flag and the second forwarding flag has been set on, transmitting the packet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, wherein a single flag comprises the first forwarding flag and the second forwarding flag.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the first set of forwarding conditions and the second set of forwarding conditions are identical.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of the one or more forwarding conditions is a predetermined forwarding character.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the forwarding character is only used to indicate that a packet of data is to be transmitted, and is then discarded.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the forwarding character is first used to indicate that a packet of data is to be transmitted, and is then appended to the packet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of the one or more forwarding conditions is the expiration of an idle-line timer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes comparing the accumulated data to a predetermined set of forwarding characters, and if the comparison step yields a match, storing a forwarding condition in the memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes: setting an idle-line timer to a predetermined idle time period upon the receipt of data from the data source; generating and storing a forwarding condition if the idle-line timer expires before additional data is accumulated from the data source; and resetting the idle-line timer if additional data is accumulated prior to the expiration of the timer.