Generic Communications Protocol Translator

• US 20050005022A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lubec Campobello LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Taylor, Rebecca S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• 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 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• 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 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention discloses a generic protocol translator (32) that translates information from a source device to a destination device. The generic protocol translator (32) includes a receiver circuit manager (92) that receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through one or more interface sockets (104). The present invention also includes one or more receivers (106) receive information from the receiver circuit manager. Further included are one or more message converters (110) that convert the information to the destination format using a conversion process. Additionally included is a message router (112) that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information. And, the present invention includes one or more message senders (114) that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

Claims

1. A generic protocol translator that translates information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

a receiver circuit manager that further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications;

a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

6. A dependent claim according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein said conversion process uses a poly dimensional finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage.

2. A system with a generic protocol translator that translates information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

a receiver circuit manager that further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications;

a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

3. A method to make generic protocol translator that translates information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

providing a receiver circuit manager that further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

providing one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

providing one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications;

providing a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

providing one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

4. A method that translates information from a source device to a destination device using a generic protocol translator, comprising:

receiving information with a receiver circuit manager from a source device where the information is intended for a destination device, said receiver circuit manager further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol,

receiving information with one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

converting information with one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications;

routing information with a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

sending information with one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

5. A program storage device readable by a computer that tangibly embodies a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method that translates information from a source device to a destination device using a generic protocol translator, comprising:

receiving information with a receiver circuit manager from a source device where the information is intended for a destination device, said receiver circuit manager further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol,

receiving information with one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

converting information with one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications;

routing information with a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

sending information with one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

7. A generic protocol translator that translates information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

a receiver circuit manager that further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications, wherein said conversion process uses a poly dimensional finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

8. A system with a generic protocol translator that translates information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

a receiver circuit manager that further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications, wherein said conversion process uses a poly dimensional finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

9. A method to make generic protocol translator that translates information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

providing a receiver circuit manager that further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

providing one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

providing one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications, wherein said conversion process uses a poly dimensional finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

providing a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

providing one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

10. A method that translates information from a source device to a destination device using a generic protocol translator, comprising:

receiving information with a receiver circuit manager from a source device where the information is intended for a destination device, said receiver circuit manager further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol,

receiving information with one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

converting information with one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications, wherein said conversion process uses a poly dimensional finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

routing information with a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

sending information with one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

11. A program storage device readable by a computer that tangibly embodies a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method that translates information from a source device to a destination device using a generic protocol translator, comprising:

receiving information with a receiver circuit manager from a source device where the information is intended for a destination device, said receiver circuit manager further comprises one or more interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol,

receiving information with one or more receivers that receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

converting information with one or more message converters that convert the information to the destination format that uses a conversion process, said message converters are extensible and can be reprogrammed in the field to support other protocols, device types, and applications, wherein said conversion process uses a poly dimensional finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

routing information with a message router that determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

sending information with one or more message senders that transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.