Translating switch and method

• US 20040064586A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weigand, Gilbert G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2517 using port numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Payload information in a data unit may be translated into the attribute portion of a data unit by receiving a first data unit from a terminal with payload information, identifying attribute information from within the the payload information, and translating the first data unit into a translated data unit having an attribute portion corresponding to the attribute information from within the payload information of the first data unit.

Claims

1. A translating switch comprising:

a first communications interface structured and arranged to receive from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;

a first translating table structured and arranged to identify attribute information from within the payload information; and

a first translating processor structured and arranged to translate the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information.

2. The translating switch of claim 1 further comprising a second communications interface structured and arranged to transmit the translated data unit to a host.

3. The translating switch of claim 2 further comprising a third communications interface structured and arranged to receive a response to the translated data unit.

4. The translating switch of claim 3 wherein the translating processor is structured and arranged to reverse translate the response to the translated data unit into a reverse translated response so that the terminal recognizes the response to the first data unit.

5. The translating switch of claim 4 wherein reverse translating the response to the translated data unit comprises mapping the attribute portion in the response to the translated data unit into the payload information of the reverse translated response.

6. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the payload information of the first data unit comprises access to a personalized resource.

7. The translating switch of claim 6 wherein the personalized resource comprises an electronic mail message.

8. The translating switch of claim 6 wherein the personalized resource comprises an Instant Messaging service.

9. The translating switch of claim 6 wherein the personalized resource comprises a web page.

10. The translating switch of claim 6 wherein the personalized resource comprises a media stream.

11. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the first data unit comprises a request for content.

12. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the payload information comprises data selection information within an array of data selection information.

13. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the payload information comprises premium content requiring access to the premium content be verified.

14. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the attribute portion includes layer-three addressing information.

15. The translating switch of claim 14 wherein the layer-three addressing information includes an Internet Protocol address.

16. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the attribute portion includes one or more port addresses.

17. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the translating processor translates the payload information using more than one tier.

18. The translating switch of claim 17 wherein one of the tiers includes a user tier in the attribute portion to indicate the user.

19. The translating switch of claim 17 wherein one of the tiers includes an application tier in the attribute portion to indicate an application.

20. The translating switch of claim 17 wherein one of the tiers includes a selection tier in the attribute portion.

21. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the first translating processor is structured and arranged to select an attribute portion based on a state of demand for resources, the resources comprising one or more applications referenced by the payload information.

22. The translating switch of claim 21 wherein the first translating processor is structured and arranged to select the attribute portion to accommodate increased demand within an addressing space comprising the attribute portion.

23. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein the second communications interface interfaces with a host to create an interface for the host so that the host may respond to the translated data unit.

24. The translating switch of claim 23 wherein the second communications interface interfaces with the host dynamically in response to receiving the first data unit.

25. The translating switch of claim 1 further comprising a retrieving processor structured and arranged to load a translating table with one or more parameters describing a user state, the user state indicating a profile for a user.

26. The translating switch of claim 25 wherein the profile includes parameters enabling the response to the translated data unit to be associated with the profile.

27. The translating switch of claim 1 wherein determining the attribute portion of the data unit includes identifying a user state, the user state indicating a profile for a user.

28. The translating switch of claim 27 wherein the first translating processor is structured and arranged to map one or more portions of the profile to the attribute portion of a data unit.

29. A method of translating information in a data unit, the method comprising:

receiving from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;

identifying attribute information from within the payload information of the first data unit; and

translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information of the first data unit.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising transmitting the translated data unit to a host.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising receiving a response to the translated data unit.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising reverse translating the response to the translated data unit into a reverse translated response so that the terminal recognizes the response to the first data unit.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein reverse translating the response to the translated data unit comprises mapping the attribute portion in the response to the translated data unit into the payload information of the reverse translated response.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the payload information of the first data unit comprises access to a personalized resource.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the personalized resource comprises an electronic mail message.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the personalized resource comprises an Instant Messaging service.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the personalized resource comprises a web page.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the personalized resource comprises a media stream.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein the first data unit comprises a request for content.

40. The method of claim 29 wherein the payload information comprises data selection information within an array of data selection information.

41. The method of claim 29 wherein the payload information comprises premium content for which access is verified.

42. The method of claim 29 wherein the attribute portion includes layer-three addressing information.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the layer-three addressing information includes an Internet Protocol address.

44. The method of claim 29 wherein the attribute portion includes one or more port addresses.

45. The method of claim 29 wherein translating the payload information to the attribute portion includes translating the payload information using more than one tier.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein one of the tiers comprises a user tier in the attribute portion to indicate the user.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein one of the tiers comprises an application tier in the attribute portion to indicate an application.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein one of the tiers comprises a selection tier in the attribute portion.

49. The method of claim 29 wherein translating the first data unit into a translated data unit includes selecting the attribute portion based on a state of demand for resources, the resources comprising one or more applications referenced by the payload information.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein selecting the attribute portion based on the state of demand for resources includes selecting the attribute portion to accommodate increased demand within an addressing space comprising the attribute portion.

51. The method of claim 29 further comprising interfacing with a host to create an interface on the host so that the host may respond to the translated data unit.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein interfacing with the host is performed dynamically in response to receiving the first data unit.

53. The method of claim 29 further comprising loading a translating table with one or more parameters describing a user state, the user state indicating a profile for a user.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the profile includes parameters enabling the response to the translated data unit to be associated with the profile.

55. The method of claim 29 wherein determining the attribute portion of the data unit includes identifying a user state, the user state indicating a profile for a user.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein translating the first data unit includes mapping one or more portions of the profile to the attribute portion of a data unit.

57. A translating switch comprising:

means for receiving from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;

means for identifying attribute information from within the payload information of the first data unit; and

means for translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information of the first data unit.