System for transferring messages via different sub-networks by converting control codes into reference code compatible with a reference protocol and encapsulating the code with the message

• US 5,740,374 A
• Filed: 07/06/1995
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Raffali-Schreinemachers, Maria Johanna Elisabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Po C.
• Application Number:
  US08/498,907
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 370/270, 370/392, 370/360, 370/386, 370/680, 395/200.3, 395/200.6, 395/200.62, 395/200.66, 395/200.68
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A transmission system for sub-networks having different transmission protocols. Control codes which are assigned to a message in a source sub-network are converted at the transition with a first intermediate sub-network, into reference codes which are compatible with a reference protocol ("meta protocol"). Subsequently, control codes are assigned both to the message and to its reference codes, which control codes are compatible with the protocol in the first intermediate sub-network. At each subsequent sub-network transition, control codes are always assigned to both the message and to the reference codes, which control codes are compatible with the local protocol of the subsequent intermediate sub-network ("tunnelling"). At the interface of the last intermediate sub-network and the destination sub-network, after removing the local control codes, the reference codes are converted into control codes which are compatible with the local protocol of the destination sub-network. In this manner "tunnelling" is possible with different protocols in source and destination sub-network. In this context, the number of translation modules is restricted.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting an electronic message via a network including various sub-networks which use their own transmission protocol, said message being provided by a source sub-network and source transmission codes relating to said message being generated for transmission with said message, which transmission codes are compatible with the transmission protocol of said source sub-network, after which the message is transferred to a destination sub-network via various intermediate sub-networks, said system comprising:

a first converter for converting said source transmission codes into reference codes which are compatible with a reference protocol, at an interface of the source sub-network and a first said intermediate sub-network;

an encapsulation member in each intermediate sub-network for encapsulating said message and said reference codes with intermediate transmission codes related to the transmission of said message and said reference codes through the respective intermediate sub-network, in the event that the reference codes are not compatible with the transmission protocol of said intermediate sub-network, in order to transfer the message and reference codes in an encapsulated form through the intermediate sub-networks to a destination sub-network, said intermediate transmission codes being compatible with the transmission protocol of the respective intermediate sub-network; and

a second converter for converting said reference codes into transmission codes which are compatible with the transmission protocol of the destination sub-network, after the message and the reference codes are transferred to the destination sub-network by the intermediate sub-networks.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reference protocol corresponds with one of the transmission protocols which are in force in the sub-networks.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the reference protocol is formed by a formal protocol specification.

4. A method for transmitting an electronic message via a network including various sub-networks which use their own transmission protocol, said message being provided by a source sub-network and source transmission codes relating to said message being generated for transmission with said message, which transmission codes are compatible with the transmission protocol of said source sub-network, after which the message is transferred to a destination sub-network via various intermediate sub-networks, said method comprising the steps of:

converting said source transmission codes into reference codes which are compatible with a reference protocol, at an interface of the source sub-network and a first said intermediate sub-network;

encapsulating said message and said reference codes in each intermediate sub-network with intermediate transmission codes related to the transmission of said message and said reference codes through the respective intermediate sub-network, in the event that the reference codes are not compatible with the transmission protocol of said intermediate sub-network, said intermediate transmission codes being compatible with the transmission protocol of the respective intermediate sub-network;

transferring the message and reference codes in the encapsulated form through the intermediate sub-networks to a destination sub-network; and

converting said reference codes into transmission codes which are compatible with the transmission protocol of the destination sub-network, after the message and the reference codes are transferred to the destination sub-network by the intermediate sub-networks.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the reference protocol corresponds with one of the transmission protocols which are in force in the sub-networks.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein the reference protocol is formed by a formal protocol specification.