US5621734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Local area network with server and virtual circuits
Assignee: Enterasys Networks Inc
•
Filing: 1994-04-08
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Granted: 1997-04-15
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Expires: 2014-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A communications network has a plurality of users connected by virtual circuits to a plurality of service providers. A server has the plurality of users connected thereto. A node provides the plurality of service providers. Both the server and the node are connected to the network. A first session is established between one user and the server, and a second session is established between the node and a selected one of the service providers. A virtual circuit is established linking the first service session and the second service session to establish message transmission between the one user and the selected service provider. A message sent between the user and the service provider is sent over the network, and the message identifies the virtual circuit. Messages between a server and a node are multiplexed by having slots, and a slot contains a message from a sending session to a receiving session.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce E. Mann
- 👤 Darrell J. Duffy
- 👤 Anthony G. Lauck
- 👤 William D. Strecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/326; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/54; H04L69/18; H04L69/24; H04L69/28; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for communicating between users connected to a server and service providers connected to a node, comprising: means in said server for establishing first service sessions between said server and selected ones of said users; means in said node for establishing second service sessions between said node and selected ones of said service providers; and means in said server and in said node for supporting a virtual circuit therebetween and for gathering session messages generated by said first service sessions or said second service sessions into a single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for communicating between users connected to a server and service providers connected to a node, comprising: means in said server for establishing first service sessions between said server and selected ones of said users; means in said node for establishing second service sessions between said node and selected ones of said service providers; and means in said server and in said node for supporting a virtual circuit therebetween and for gathering session messages generated by said first service sessions or said second service sessions into a single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
156 words
A system for computer communication comprising: a network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of servers connected thereto; each of said plurality of servers having a plurality of users connected thereto; each one of said plurality of nodes having a plurality of service providers; a virtual circuit between said one of said plurality of servers and said one of said plurality of nodes; session state machines in each of said plurality of servers for establishing first service sessions between one of said plurality of servers and selected ones of said plurality of users; session state machines for establishing second service sessions between one of said plurality of nodes and selected ones of said plurality of service providers, said second service sessions exchanging session messages with corresponding ones of said first service sessions through said virtual circuit; and means for gathering session messages in a single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
156 words
A system for computer communication comprising: a network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of servers connected thereto; each of said plurality of servers having a plurality of users connected thereto; each one of said plurality of nodes having a plurality of service providers; a virtual circuit between said one of said plurality of servers and said one of said plurality of nodes; session state machines in each of said plurality of servers for establishing first service sessions between one of said plurality of servers and selected ones of said plurality of users; session state machines for establishing second service sessions between one of said plurality of nodes and selected ones of said plurality of service providers, said second service sessions exchanging session messages with corresponding ones of said first service sessions through said virtual circuit; and means for gathering session messages in a single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
154 words
A system comprising: a server capable of connection to a plurality of users; session state machines in said server for establishing first service sessions between said server and selected ones of said plurality of users; a node having a plurality of service providers; session state machines in said node for establishing second service sessions between said node and selected ones of said plurality of service providers; a virtual circuit state machine in said server and in said node for establishing a virtual circuit between said node and said server, thereby enabling a message exchange between said selected ones of said plurality of users and said selected ones of said plurality of service providers; and means for gathering session messages associated with said first service sessions or second service sessions into a single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit to said node, said single virtual circuit message including a virtual circuit identification.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
A system comprising: a server capable of connection to a plurality of users; session state machines in said server for establishing first service sessions between said server and selected ones of said plurality of users; a node having a plurality of service providers; session state machines in said node for establishing second service sessions between said node and selected ones of said plurality of service providers; a virtual circuit state machine in said server and in said node for establishing a virtual circuit between said node and said server, thereby enabling a message exchange between said selected ones of said plurality of users and said selected ones of said plurality of service providers; and means for gathering session messages associated with said first service sessions or second service sessions into a single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit to said node, said single virtual circuit message including a virtual circuit identification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as in claim 3 wherein said selected ones of said plurality of service providers comprise equipment attached to said node.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as in claim 3 wherein said selected ones of said plurality of service providers comprise software applications.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as in claim 3 wherein said session messages associated with said first service sessions or said second service sessions are multiplexed in session slots in said single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
123 words
A system comprising: a node connected to a network, said node generating a separate session message for each of a plurality of users; means for said node to place each said separate session message in a separate slot in a single virtual circuit message, and to transmit said single virtual circuit message into said network, said virtual circuit message identified by a virtual circuit identification; a server connected to said network; and means for said server to receive said single virtual circuit message, and for said server to identify said each said separate session message, and for said server to tranmit said each said separate session message to one of said plurality of users having a session corresponding to said separate session message.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
A system comprising: a node connected to a network, said node generating a separate session message for each of a plurality of users; means for said node to place each said separate session message in a separate slot in a single virtual circuit message, and to transmit said single virtual circuit message into said network, said virtual circuit message identified by a virtual circuit identification; a server connected to said network; and means for said server to receive said single virtual circuit message, and for said server to identify said each said separate session message, and for said server to tranmit said each said separate session message to one of said plurality of users having a session corresponding to said separate session message.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
122 words
A system comprising: a server connected to a network; said server receiving separate session messages from a plurality of users; means for said server to gather said separate session messages into a single virtual circuit message, and for said server to transmit said single virtual circuit message onto said network, said single virtual circuit message identified by a virtual circuit identification; a node connected to said network; and means for said node to receive said single virtual circuit message, and for said node to identify each of said separate session messages in said single virtual circuit message, and for said node to transmit said each of said separate session messages to service providers having established sessions corresponding to said separate session messages.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
122 words
A system comprising: a server connected to a network; said server receiving separate session messages from a plurality of users; means for said server to gather said separate session messages into a single virtual circuit message, and for said server to transmit said single virtual circuit message onto said network, said single virtual circuit message identified by a virtual circuit identification; a node connected to said network; and means for said node to receive said single virtual circuit message, and for said node to identify each of said separate session messages in said single virtual circuit message, and for said node to transmit said each of said separate session messages to service providers having established sessions corresponding to said separate session messages.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of operating a system for communication between a plurality of users connected to a server and a node, said node having a plurality of service providers, comprising: establishing a virtual circuit between said server and said node; establishing, in said server, first service sessions between said server and ones of said plurality of users, each of said ones of said plurality of users requesting services from a selected one of said plurality of service providers, said first service sessions each generating session messages with information collected from said ones of said plurality of users; establishing, in said node, a second service session between said node and each said selected one of said plurality of service providers, each said second service session corresponding to one of said first service sessions; gathering said session messages generated by said first service sessions into a single virtual circuit message for transfer over said virtual circuit to said node; and providing each of said session messages in said single virtual circuit received by said node to said service providers having established second service sessions corresponding to said session messages.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of operating a system for communication between a plurality of users connected to a server and a node, said node having a plurality of service providers, comprising: establishing a virtual circuit between said server and said node; establishing, in said server, first service sessions between said server and ones of said plurality of users, each of said ones of said plurality of users requesting services from a selected one of said plurality of service providers, said first service sessions each generating session messages with information collected from said ones of said plurality of users; establishing, in said node, a second service session between said node and each said selected one of said plurality of service providers, each said second service session corresponding to one of said first service sessions; gathering said session messages generated by said first service sessions into a single virtual circuit message for transfer over said virtual circuit to said node; and providing each of said session messages in said single virtual circuit received by said node to said service providers having established second service sessions corresponding to said session messages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
An interface unit for connection to a communications link in a network, said network including a plurality of interface units each coupling said communications link to users or service providers capable of transferring and receiving information over said communications link, said interface unit comprising: session state machines each connected to one of said service users or service providers, said each session state machine for generating session messages with information collected from said one of said service users or service providers; and a virtual circuit state machine coupled to said each session state machine for gathering said session messages generated by said each session state machine into a single virtual circuit message for transfer over said communications link.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
117 words
An interface unit for connection to a communications link in a network, said network including a plurality of interface units each coupling said communications link to users or service providers capable of transferring and receiving information over said communications link, said interface unit comprising: session state machines each connected to one of said service users or service providers, said each session state machine for generating session messages with information collected from said one of said service users or service providers; and a virtual circuit state machine coupled to said each session state machine for gathering said session messages generated by said each session state machine into a single virtual circuit message for transfer over said communications link.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An interface unit according to claim 10, wherein said session messages generated by said session state machines are multiplexed in session slots in said single virtual circuit message for transfer through said virtual circuit over said communications link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An interface unit according to claim 10, wherein said single virtual circuit message includes a virtual circuit identification.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
An interface unit for connection to a communications link in a local area network, said network including a plurality of interface units each coupling said communications link to devices capable of transferring and receiving information over said communications link, said interface unit comprising: session state machines each connected to ones of said devices, said each session state machine for generating session messages with information collected from said device; and a virtual circuit state machine coupled to said each session state machine for gathering said session messages generated by said each said session state machine into a single virtual circuit message for transfer over said communications link.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
An interface unit for connection to a communications link in a local area network, said network including a plurality of interface units each coupling said communications link to devices capable of transferring and receiving information over said communications link, said interface unit comprising: session state machines each connected to ones of said devices, said each session state machine for generating session messages with information collected from said device; and a virtual circuit state machine coupled to said each session state machine for gathering said session messages generated by said each said session state machine into a single virtual circuit message for transfer over said communications link.
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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) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |