Methods and systems using PLD-based network communication protocols

• US 20060182108A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 802 Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: 802 Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Krumel, Andrew K.
• Application Number:
  US11/405,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20060182108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems for a PLD-based network update transport (PNUT) protocol that utilizes UDP and other protocols for transmitting update or other commands or information over a packet-based or IP network. PNUT is a hardware-based network communication protocol that does not require the full TCP/IP stack and may be utilized for exchanging commands and information with such PLD-based and other devices. Protocols may include a set of core commands and a set of custom commands. Logic components within the PLD-based devices may consist of a command dispatcher, a transmitter/controller, a MAC receiver, a MAC transmitter, a packet parser, a packet generator, and core receiving and transmitting commands. The present invention may be implemented without requiring CPU cores, special controllers, stringent timings, or operating systems as compared with conventional network protocols. Various methods for exchanging and updating PNUT commands are disclosed. The methods and systems of the present invention may be utilized to provide other functions, such as filtering, logging, polling, testing, debugging, and monitoring, and may be implemented between a server and a PLD-based device or solely between PLD-based devices.

Claims

1. A method for updating the configuration of a programmable logic device-based system (“

PLD system”

) over a packet-based network using a protocol, comprising the steps of;

operating the PLD system in accordance with first configuration data;

sending at least a first packet from a computing system to the PLD system over the network;

in response to the first packet, sending at least a second packet from the PLD system to the computing system over the network, wherein the second packet contains information identifying the PLD system and also information indicative of one or more commands in accordance with the protocol, wherein the PLD system operates in accordance with the one or more commands;

in response to the second packet, sending at least a third packet from the computing system to the PLD system, wherein the third packet comprises a command in accordance with the protocol and contains at least second configuration data for the PLD system;

loading the second configuration into the PLD system; and

operating the PLD system in accordance with the second configuration data.

2-62. -62. (canceled)