Methods and apparatus for interconnecting personal computers (PCs) and local area networks (LANs) using packet protocols transmitted over a digital data service (DDS)
First Claim
1. A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data and running network applications software, said network applications software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said method comprising:
- emulating a direct connection between said personal computer and said local area network, wherein said emulating comprises interconnecting a PC adapter card to said personal computer, said PC adapter card emulating a local area network interface card;
converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data and transmitting said synchronous bit serial data along said synchronous digital lines between said personal computer and said local area network; and
converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing virtual local connection of one PC to another PC, a PC to a LAN and from one LAN to another LAN, over a synchronous digital wide area network (effectively enabling a LAN to be extended through a synchronous digital wide area network on a virtual basis), using a PC adapter card that includes an on board Data Service Unit (DSU)/Channel Service Unit (CSU), driven by control means that functions at least in part as a LAN interface emulator. The invention includes methods (and corresponding apparatus) for configuring the PC adapter card under program control; for establishing connectivity between at least one PC and at least one LAN, each separately connected to the network, via a gateway access thru the digital wide area network; and for utilizing the PC motherboard microprocessor to run user applications software while simultaneously being able to handle the real time constraints of running packet protocols (e.g., Frame Relay, X.25, SMDS, etc.), using a novel control means.
123 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data and running network applications software, said network applications software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said method comprising:
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emulating a direct connection between said personal computer and said local area network, wherein said emulating comprises interconnecting a PC adapter card to said personal computer, said PC adapter card emulating a local area network interface card; converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data and transmitting said synchronous bit serial data along said synchronous digital lines between said personal computer and said local area network; and converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data, and said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said personal computer running networking software, said networking software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said method comprising:
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installing a pseudo LAN interface card in said personal computer, said pseudo LAN interface card (i) converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data for transmission through said digital wide area network and (ii) converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer; establishing a communications path between said networking software and said pseudo LAN interface card; operating said pseudo LAN interface card to convert asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data; and operating said pseudo LAN interface card to convert synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data.
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Specification