Method and apparatus for providing universal web access functionality

• US 20040162912A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RGB Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RGB Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Taraci, Brian Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

Abstract

A flexible electronic asset management system using Ethernet connectivity for electronic devices is presented. The invention enables multiple electronic devices to be controlled, monitored, and accessed from any browser connected to a computer network. A flattened stack approach is used to process network packet data. The flattened stack approach treats the network packet as a single string of data and uses the first few bytes of information to decide whether to drop or process the incoming data thus providing for faster network traffic processing. Since the lowest layer of the OSI stack has knowledge of what applications are active in the upper layers, the flattened stack allows the packet to be discarded at the earliest possible point so no processing power is wasted. The flattened stack also organizes its check/processing based on the raw data stream thus minimizing buffer requirements and providing for easier implementation into hardware.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing universal web access functionality comprising:

a first electronic device having a plurality of configurable Input/Output ports;

a network connection to said first electronic device on a first one of said plurality of configurable Input/Output ports; and

at least one second electronic device connected to said first electronic device on a second one of said plurality of configurable Input/Output ports, wherein said first electronic device serves web pages associated with said at least one second electronic device.

2. A method for providing universal web access functionality comprising:

providing a plurality of configurable Input/Output ports on a first electronic device;

connecting said first electronic device to a network via a first one of said plurality of configurable Input/Output ports; and

connecting at least one second electronic device to said first electronic device on a second one of said plurality of configurable Input/Output ports, wherein said first electronic device serves web pages associated with said at least one second electronic device.