Digital interface unit
First Claim
1. Digital communication apparatus for use with a communications link, said communications link having a message protocol which includes a free text message protocol, said digital communications apparatus allowing transfer of data, over said communications link, between digital communications terminals of a predetermined type having a fixed format message protocol which is incompatible with the message protocol of said communications link, which comprises:
- first means, adapted to receive a fixed format digital message having a fixed format message protocol from one of said digital communications terminals of said predetermined type, for packing said fixed format digital message into a free text digital message having a free text message protocol compatible with the free text message protocol of said communications link; and
second means, adapted to receive a free text digital message having a fixed format digital message contained therein from said communications link, for unpacking said fixed format digital message from said free text digital message, said second means being adapted to transmit said fixed format message to one of said digital communications terminals of said predetermined type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface apparatus and method is disclosed which allows communication of digital data messages between a first type of data terminals (10 and 65) employing a message protocol (FIG. 1a) with a "free text-type" message, and other user devices employing other digital message protocols. The invention is adapted to exploit the free text message capability of the first protocol. In accordance with the invention, the incoming user data messages are packed into one or more free text messages of the first message protocol, and conversely "unpack" free text messages from the data terminal employing the first protocol are unpacked and formatted into the message protocol format employed by the user device 65. The invention eliminates the necessity for expensive translation devices which translate the data, and allows a plurality of user data terminals to communicate via a link comprising the data terminals employing the first message protocol.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Digital communication apparatus for use with a communications link, said communications link having a message protocol which includes a free text message protocol, said digital communications apparatus allowing transfer of data, over said communications link, between digital communications terminals of a predetermined type having a fixed format message protocol which is incompatible with the message protocol of said communications link, which comprises:
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first means, adapted to receive a fixed format digital message having a fixed format message protocol from one of said digital communications terminals of said predetermined type, for packing said fixed format digital message into a free text digital message having a free text message protocol compatible with the free text message protocol of said communications link; and second means, adapted to receive a free text digital message having a fixed format digital message contained therein from said communications link, for unpacking said fixed format digital message from said free text digital message, said second means being adapted to transmit said fixed format message to one of said digital communications terminals of said predetermined type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 16)
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6. Digital communication apparatus for use with secure, jam-resistant digital communication equipment, said digital communication equipment having a message protocol which includes a free text message protocol, said digital communication apparatus allowing transfer of data, over said digital communication equipment, between digital communications terminals of a predetermined type having a fixed format message protocol which is incompatible with the message protocol of said digital communication equipment, said digital communication apparatus comprising:
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first means, adapted to receive fixed format digital messages having a fixed format message protocol compatible with said communications terminals, for packing said fixed format digital message into free text digital messages having a free text message protocol compatible with the free text message protocol of said jam-resistant digital communication equipment; and second means adapted to receive free text digital messages compatible with said communication terminal and having a fixed format digital message contained therein, for unpacking said fixed format digital message from said free text digital message to provide said fixed format digital messages for use with said communication terminals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 17, 18)
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10. A method of producing digital message compatible with a communications link derived from a digital communications terminal employing a message protocol incompatible with said communications link, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing said fixed format digital message received from said digital communications terminal; identifying the message protocol type of said fixed format digital message; tagging said fixed format digital message with digital identifiers indicating the fixed format message protocol type, that this message is to be transmitted as a free text message, and the terminal type to which said fixed format message is to be transmitted; formatting said tagged fixed format digital message into a predetermined free text message format compatible with said communications link; and storing said formatted free text message. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of communicating between digital communications terminals employing a fixed message format and protocol using a communications link employing an incompatible message format and protocol, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing a digital message having a predetermined fixed format derived from said digital communications terminal; identifying the message type of said stored fixed format digital message; tagging said fixed format digital message with digital identifiers indicating the fixed format message protocol type, that this message is to be transmitted as a free text message, and the terminal type to which said fixed format message is to be transmitted; formatting said tagged fixed format digital message into a predetermined free text message format compatible with said communications link; storing said formatted free text message; transmitting said formatted free text message over said communications link; storing a free text message received from said communications link; detecting the receipt of said free text message from said communications link; unformatting said free text message to extract said fixed format message and identifiers therefrom; reformatting said fixed format message into the message protocol associated with the communications terminal identified in the transmitted free text message; and transmitting said reformatted fixed format message to the identified digital communications terminal type. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of communicating between digital communications terminals employing a fixed message format and protocol using a communications link employing an incompatible message format and protocol, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing a digital message having a predetermined fixed format derived from said digital communications terminal; identifying the message type of said stored fixed format digital message; tagging said fixed format digital message with digital identifiers indicating the fixed format message protocol type, that this message is to be transmitted as a free text message, and the terminal type to which said fixed format message is to be transmitted; formatting said tagged fixed format digital message into a predetermined free text message format compatible with said communications link; storing said formatted free text message; transmitting said formatted free text message over said communications link; storing a free text message received from said communications link; detecting the receipt of said free text message from said communications link; unformatting said free text message to extract said fixed format message and identifiers therefrom; unformatting said free text message to extract said fixed format message thereform, which includes determining the fixed format message type, determining the terminal to which the fixed format message is to be sent, and removing the fixed format message from said free text message; and transmitting said reformatted fixed format message to the identified digital communications terminal type.
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Specification