System for enabling first computer to communicate over switched network with second computer located within LAN by using media access control driver in different modes
First Claim
1. A system for enabling a first computer to communicate over a switched network with a second computer located within a local area network connectable to the switched network, the first computer having a media access control driver for providing a communication channel to connect the first computer to the switched network, comprising:
- means for placing the media access control driver in a first mode to establish a connection between the first computer and the second computer via the switched network;
means for placing the media access control driver in a second mode in which messages in a protocol of the local area network are passed between the first and second computers over the switched network;
means for managing a status of a connection between the first and second computers; and
means for passing messages in the local area network protocol between the first and second computers when the media access control driver is in the second mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of media access control drivers are coupled to and provide a respective channel to connect a computer and the switched network. Each media access control driver has a first mode in which a connection is established in the switched network and a second mode in which the local area network protocol is passed over the switched network. The media access control drivers may also be placed in a third and fourth mode which allow communication in an unformatted and non-LAN based protocol. The architecture also includes at least one port connection manager which manages one of the channels when the respective media access control driver is in the first mode and a connection manager to manage a status of the connection. The media access control drivers are coupled to a protocol driver to send messages in the local area network protocol when the media access control drivers are in the second mode. Each of the media access control drivers include a table of parameters which describe the channel and a set of entry points to the channel. A protocol manager catalogs the tables for use by other modules.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for enabling a first computer to communicate over a switched network with a second computer located within a local area network connectable to the switched network, the first computer having a media access control driver for providing a communication channel to connect the first computer to the switched network, comprising:
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means for placing the media access control driver in a first mode to establish a connection between the first computer and the second computer via the switched network; means for placing the media access control driver in a second mode in which messages in a protocol of the local area network are passed between the first and second computers over the switched network; means for managing a status of a connection between the first and second computers; and means for passing messages in the local area network protocol between the first and second computers when the media access control driver is in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for enabling a first computer to communicate over a switched network with a second computer located within a local area network connectable to the switched network, comprising:
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a plurality of media access control drivers each for providing a respective communication channel to connect the first computer and the switched network; a port connection manager for selectively switching at least one of the media access control drivers from a first mode to a second mode, wherein during the first mode the respective media access control driver establishes, takes down or manages a connection between the first computer and the second computer via the switched network, and wherein during the second mode the respective media access control driver passes messages in a protocol of the local area network between the first and second computers over the switched network; and a connection manager to manage a status of the connection; and a protocol driver to send messages in the local area network protocol when the respective media access control driver is in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for enabling a first computer to communicate over a switched network with a second computer located within a network connectable to the switched network comprising the steps of:
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placing a media access control driver in a connection mode to establish a communication channel between the first computer and the switched network; selectively switching the media access control driver from the connection mode to a protocol mode to facilitate passing of messages in a protocol of the network between the first and second computers over the switched network; managing the communication channel with a port connection manager when the media access control driver is in the connection mode; and using the port connection manager to switch the media access control driver between the connection and protocol modes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for enabling a first computer to communicate over a switched network with a second computer located within a network connectable to the switched network, comprising:
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a media access control driver which when resident on the first computer provides a channel to connect the first computer to the switched network; means for selectively switching the media access control driver from a first mode to a second mode, wherein during the first mode the media access control driver establishes, takes down or manages a connection between the first computer and the second computer via the switched network, and wherein during the second mode the media access control driver passes messages in a protocol of the network between the first and second computers over the switched network; a port connection manager which manages the channel when the media access control driver is in the first mode; and a connection manager to manage a status of the connection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for enabling a first computer to communicate over a switched network with a second computer located within a network connectable to the switched network, the first computer having a media access control driver, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a connection between the first and second computer via the switched network; selectively switching the media access control driver into one of a set of modes in which information is passed between the first and second computers over the switched network, the set of modes including a first mode for handling messages in a protocol of the network, a second mode for handling unformatted data, and a third mode for handling messages in a non-LAN protocol; passing messages in the protocol of the network between the first and second computers when the media access control driver in switched to the first mode; passing unformatted data between the first and second computers when the media access control driver is switched to the second mode; and passing messages in a non-LAN protocol between the first and second computers when the media access control driver is switched to the third mode.
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Specification