Point-to-point data communication implemented with multipoint network data communication components

• US 20050125495A1
• Filed: 12/31/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Glenn, Morris, Larry, Tjong, Soemin
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/322 Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions

Abstract

A data communication system is configured to communicatively link a host device and a client device with a point-to-point data communication link, where the point-to-point data communication link is configured with multipoint network data communication components designed for data communication over a distributed network. A data communication interface at the host device is communicatively linked with a data communication interface driver via the point-to-point data communication link between the host device and the client device. The data communication interface driver communicates with a virtual driver component for the client device via a virtual network at the client device.

Claims

1. A method for communicating data between a host device and a client device with a point-to-point data communication link, the client device performing the method comprising:

coupling to the host device with a connection interface to establish the point-to-point data communication link;

receiving data from a remotely located data communication interface; and

communicating the data from a data communication interface driver designed for data communication over a distributed network via a virtual network to a virtual driver component for the client device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein coupling with the connection interface includes coupling to the host device with a Universal Serial Bus data communication interface.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein coupling with the connection interface includes coupling to the host device with a 1394 bus data communication interface.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein coupling with the connection interface includes coupling to the host device with a wireless data communication interface.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein coupling with the connection interface includes coupling to the host device with a Bluetooth data communication interface.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein coupling with the connection interface includes coupling to the host device with an infrared data communication interface.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein communicating includes communicating the data via a virtual local area network.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving includes receiving Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) messages from a Remote NDIS component.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving includes receiving Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) messages from a Remote NDIS component, and wherein communicating includes communicating the Remote NDIS messages from a Remote NDIS driver via the virtual network to the virtual driver component.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving includes receiving Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) messages from a Remote NDIS component, and wherein communicating includes communicating the Remote NDIS messages from a Remote NDIS driver via a virtual local area network to the virtual driver component.

11. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method of claim 1.