System and method for inter-network communications

• US 20020032789A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Becker GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Becker GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lappe, Dirk, Wietzke, Joachim, Bahren, Frank, Schopp, Harald, Bischoff, Joachim
• Application Number:
  US09/892,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A network that provides a simple mechanism for communicating between the network, such as a MOST network installed in a motor vehicle, and a second network, such as the Internet. One unit of the network includes a network layer of the second network as well as an associated application interface (API). The network layer is an Internet Protocol (IP) or Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) network layer. Also installed in the network unit is an associated application program interface. Together, the network layer and API enable the network units in first network to communicate with the second network. Proxy computers are installed in the remaining units to substantially reduce technical complexity without impairing communication with the second network.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a first network (M), which links several units (1 to 10) with one another, and a second network (I), characterized in that the network layers (IP) of the second network (I) as well as an associated application interface (API)—

a so-called API—

are centrally implemented in one of the units (1) of the first network (M) for the remaining units (2 to 10), while so-called proxy computers (P) are installed in the remaining units (2 to 10).

3. The method or network of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first network is an MOST network and the second network is the Internet (I).

4. The method or network of claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the unit (I) with the network layers (IP) of the second network (I) and the API (API) is a telephone.

5. The method or the network of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proxy computers (P) are installed in the form of software.

2. A network (M), which links several units (1 to 10) with one another, characterized in that the network layers (IP) of a second network (I) as well as an associated application interface (API), a so-called API, are centrally present in one of the units (1) for the remaining units (2 to 10), while a so-called proxy computer (P) is present for each of the remaining units (2 to 10).

6. (New) A network comprising:

a plurality of network units;

a communication path communicably linking the plurality of network units with each another; and

wherein a first network unit of the plurality of network units has installed therein a network layer of a second network in combination with an associated application program interface, and further wherein a proxy computer is installed in each of the plurality of network units other than said first network unit.

7. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein said first network is configured as a Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) network.

8. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein said second network is the Internet.

9. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein said network layer comprises a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) network layer.

10. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein said network layer implements Internet Protocol (IP) network layer.

11. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein said second network is the Internet.

12. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein said first network is capable of transmitting and receiving external communications.

13. (New) The network of claim 12, wherein said first network unit comprises a telephone.

14. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said remaining network units each comprise a computer platform wherein a proxy computer is installed in the form of one or more software programs.

15. (New) The network of claim 6, wherein the network units comprise equipment of a multimedia system.

16. (New) The network of claim 15, wherein said plurality of network comprise one or more data sinks and one or more data sources.

17. (New) The network of claim 15, wherein said one or more data sinks comprise one or more of the group including a car radio, a CD player, a video recorder, a TV tuner, an audio amplifier, and a display screen.

19. (New) The network of claim 18, wherein said first network is configured as a Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) network.

20. (New) The network of claim 18, wherein said network layer comprises a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) network layer.

21. (New) The network of claim 18, wherein said network layer implements a Internet Protocol (IP) network layer.

22. (New) The network of claim 18, wherein said first network unit comprises a telephone.

23. (New) The network of claim 18, wherein said network units comprise equipment of a multimedia system.

24. (New) The network of claim 23, wherein said plurality of network units other than said remaining network units comprise one or more data sinks and one or more data sources.

18. (New) A network for providing the capability to communicate over the Internet, comprising:

a plurality of network units including,

a first network unit capable of transmitting and receiving external communications and having installed therein a network layer of the Internet in combination with an associated application program interface;

a plurality of remaining network units each having installed therein a proxy computer; and

a communication path for communicably linking said network units with each another.

25. (New) A vehicle-hosted multimedia system for providing the capability to communicate over the Internet, comprising:

a plurality of network units including,

a telephone configured as a network unit capable of transmitting and receiving external communications and having installed therein a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or Internet Protocol (IP) network layer of the Internet in combination with an associated application program interface;

a plurality of remaining network units each having installed therein a proxy computer; and

a communication path for communicably linking network units with each another.