Apparatus and method for communicating data between elements of a distributed system using a general protocol

• US 5,826,017 A
• Filed: 02/10/1992
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Holzmann, Gerard Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US07/830,291
• Time in Patent Office: 2,444 Days
• Field of Search: 398/200, 398/500, 398/225, 370/401, 370/467, 370/428, 370/465, 370/466, 370/469, 395/200.6, 395/200.5, 395/500
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for communicating using protocols. The apparatus and methods employ protocol descriptions written in a device-independent protocol description language. A protocol is executed by employing a protocol description language interpreter to interpret the protocol description. Communication using any protocol for which there is a protocol description may be done by means of a general protocol. The general protocol includes a first general protocol message which includes a protocol description for a specific protocol. The protocol apparatus which receives the first protocol message employs a protocol description language interpreter to interpret the included protocol description and thereby to execute the specific protocol. The protocol apparatus may also be made to adapt to its environment by encaching protocol descriptions which were received in an earlier first general protocol message and interpreting an encached protocol description in response to a second general protocol message which includes a protocol identifier specifying the encached protocol description.

Claims

1. A method of communicating in a distributed system comprising the steps of:

in a first entity of the distributed system, receiving a first general protocol message which includes a protocol description which describes a specific protocol, the specific protocol described by the protocol description being initially unknown to the first entity, the protocol description being in a protocol description language which is independent of any particular hardware or software implementation of the first entity; and

responding to the first general protocol message by employing first protocol description interpretation means to execute the protocol description included in the first general message which enables the first entity to communicate with a second entity of the distributed system using the specific protocol.

2. Protocol apparatus for communicating in a distributed system, the apparatus comprising:

in a first entity of the distributed system,

means for storing a protocol description which describes a specific protocol, the protocol described by the protocol description being initially unknown to the first entity and in a protocol description language which is independent of any particular hardware or software implementation of the protocol apparatus; and

means for executing the protocol description to implement the specific protocol and enabling the first entity to communicate with a second entity of the distributed system using the specific protocol.

3. A method for communicating data between elements of a distributed system, comprising:

receiving in a first element of the distributed system a first data message defining an arbitrary data communication protocol which is initially unknown to the first element and is independent from any particular hardware or software implementation of the first element;

configuring the first element to receive data formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol defined in the first data message; and

receiving, in the first element, at least one additional data message, the at least one additional data message transmitted using the arbitrary data communication protocol.

4. The method of communicating set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of configuring the first element includes:

determining whether the first data message has been correctly transmitted; and

if the first data message was not correctly transmitted, returning to the step of receiving the first data message.

5. The method of communicating set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of configuring the first element includes:

determining whether the first data message is a valid first data message; and

if the first data message is not valid, sending an error message.

6. The method of communicating set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of configuring the first element includes interpreting the arbitrary data communication protocol according to the at least one parameter contained in the first data message.

7. The method of communicating set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the at least one parameter specifies a byte order employed in the arbitrary data communication protocol; and

the step of interpreting the arbitrary data communication protocol includes interpreting the arbitrary data communication protocol according to the specified byte order.

8. The method of communicating set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the at least one parameter specifies a word size employed in the arbitrary data communication protocol; and

the step of interpreting the arbitrary data communication protocol includes interpreting the arbitrary data communication protocol according to the specified word size.

9. The method of communicating set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

sending the first data message from a second element to the first element; and

employing the arbitrary data communication protocol in communications between the first and second elements.

10. The method of communicating set forth in claim 9, further comprising responding to an error message which the first element provides to the second element in response to an error in the first data message.

11. The method of communicating set forth in claim 9, wherein the step of employing the arbitrary data communication protocol includes configuring the second element to receive data formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol.

12. The method of communicating set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of configuring the first element includes directly executing instructions contained in the first data message and formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol.

13. The method of communicating set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of configuring the first element includes compiling the arbitrary data communication protocol to produce instructions directly executable by means accessible to the first element.

14. The method set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of configuring the first element to receive data formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol includes making the arbitrary data communication protocol included in the first data message accessible to the first element.

15. The method set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

receiving in the first element a second data message which defines a second arbitrary data communication protocol;

responding to the second data message by determining whether the second arbitrary data communication protocol is accessible to the first element;

if the second arbitrary data communication protocol is accessible, configuring the first element to interpret the second arbitrary data communication protocol; and

if the second arbitrary data communication protocol is not accessible, sending a first error message, and performing the step of receiving a first data message.

16. The method set forth in claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the first data message includes determining whether the arbitrary data communication protocol included in the first data message is equivalent to the second arbitrary data communication protocol.

17. The method set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of determining whether the arbitrary data communication protocol included in the first data message is equivalent to the second arbitrary data communication protocol includes sending a second error message if the arbitrary data communication protocol is not equivalent to the second arbitrary data communication protocol.

18. Protocol apparatus within a first element of a distributed system for communicating with other elements of the distributed system, the protocol apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first data message which defines an arbitrary data communication protocol which is initially unknown to the first element and is independent from any particular hardware or software implementation of the first element; and

means for configuring the first element to receive data formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol.

19. The protocol apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein the means for receiving a first data message checks the first data message to determine whether the first data message has been correctly transmitted;

and

if the first data message has not been correctly transmitted, the means for configuring the first element does not configure the first element to receive data formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol.

20. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 18, wherein the means for receiving a first data message includes a checking and indicating means for checking the first data message and indicating whether the first data message is a valid first data message the protocol apparatus further comprising error handling means for sending an error message when the checking and indicating means indicates that the first data message is not valid.

21. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 18, further comprising:

error handling means for sending an error message when an error occurs during operation of the means for configuring the first element to receive data formatted in the arbitrary data communication protocol.

22. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 18, wherein:

the first data message includes at least one parameter for interpreting data transferred according to the arbitrary data communication protocol; and

the means for configuring the first element interprets the transmitted data according to the at least one parameter.

23. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 22, wherein:

the at least one parameter specifies a byte order of the transmitted data; and

the means for configuring the first element interprets the transmitted data based on the specified byte order.

24. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 22, wherein:

the at least one parameter specifies a word size of the transmitted data; and

the means for configuring the first element interprets the transmitted data based on the specified word size.

25. The protocol apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein the means for configuring the first element interprets the first data message by directly executing instructions contained in the first data message.

26. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 18, wherein the means for configuring the first element interprets the first data message by compiling the first data message to produce instructions.

27. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 18, wherein:

the protocol apparatus further includes error handling means;

the means for receiving the first data message further receives a second data message; and

the means for configuring the first element further includes;

means for receiving data formatted in a second arbitrary data communication protocol, and

means for determining whether the second arbitrary data communication protocol is accessible;

wherein,

if the second arbitrary data communication protocol is accessible, the configuring means interprets the second arbitrary data communication protocol, and

if the second arbitrary data communication protocol is not accessible, the configuring means sends a first error message.

28. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 27, wherein the means for configuring the first element further makes accessible the arbitrary data communication protocol included in the first data message.

29. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 27, wherein the means for configuring the first element further determines whether the arbitrary data communication protocol included in the first data message is the same as the second arbitrary data communication protocol.

30. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 18, wherein the first data message is in a predetermined base format.

31. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 30, wherein the predetermined base format includes a field specifying a word size.

32. The protocol apparatus set forth in claim 30, wherein the predetermined base format includes a field specifying a byte order.

33. An apparatus for communicating between computers in a distributed system, comprising:

a first data processing apparatus of the distributed system configured in a data communication protocol;

a second data processing apparatus of the distributed system configured in an arbitrary data communication protocol;

wherein the first data processing apparatus includes;

receiving means for receiving from the second data processing apparatus a general message that defines the arbitrary data communication protocol which is initially unknown to the first data processing apparatus and is independent from any particular hardware or software implementation of the first data processing apparatus, and

configuring means for placing the first data processing apparatus into the arbitrary data communication protocol defined by the general message, wherein the receiving means is able to receive an additional message in the arbitrary data communication protocol from the second data processing apparatus.

34. The apparatus for communicating set forth in claim 33, wherein the configuring means further makes the arbitrary data communication protocol accessible to the first data processing apparatus.

35. The apparatus for communicating set forth in claim 33, wherein:

the second data processing apparatus includes error handling means;

the receiving means further receives a second general message including a second arbitrary data communication protocol; and

the configuring means determines whether the second arbitrary data communication protocol is accessible, wherein, if the configuring means determines the second arbitrary data communication protocol is accessible, the configuring means interprets the second arbitrary data communication protocol, and if the configuring means determines the second arbitrary data communication protocol is not accessible, the receiving means sends a first error message to the second data processing apparatus.

36. The apparatus for communicating set forth in claim 35, wherein the configuring means further determines whether the arbitrary data communication protocol is the same as the second arbitrary data communication protocol.

37. A method for communicating data between a first data processing apparatus and a second data processing apparatus, the method comprising:

transmitting a first data message defining an arbitrary data communication protocol, which is initially unknown to the first data processing apparatus and is independent from any particular hardware or software implementation of the first data processing apparatus, to the first data processing apparatus from the second data processing apparatus, at least a first portion of the first data message being in the predetermined data communication protocol;

placing the first data processing apparatus into the arbitrary data communication protocol defined in the first data message; and

transmitting at least one additional data message between the first data processing apparatus and second data processing apparatus, the at least one additional message in the arbitrary data communication protocol defined in the first data message.

38. The method for communicating data set forth in claim 37, wherein the first data processing apparatus and the second data processing apparatus are computers.

39. The method for communicating data set forth in claim 37, wherein one of the first data processing apparatus and the second data processing apparatus is a peripheral apparatus.

40. A method for transmitting data to a first element of a distributed system, the method comprising:

receiving, in the first element, a first data message defining an arbitrary data communication protocol which is initially unknown to the first element and is independent from any particular hardware or software implementation of the first element, at least a first portion of the first data message being in the predetermined data communication protocol;

placing the first element into the arbitrary data communication protocol defined by the first data message; and

receiving, in the first element, at least one additional data message, the at least one additional data message in the arbitrary data communication protocol defined in the first data message.

41. A method for communicating between communications devices, comprising:

receiving, using a general protocol, a first message at a first communications device containing a protocol definition defining a specific protocol to be used for subsequent messages;

executing the received protocol definition to implement the specific protocol at the first communications device; and

receiving, at the first communications device, the subsequent messages using the specific protocol.

42. The method for communicating between communications devices as set forth in claim 41, wherein the first message comprises a set of messages.

43. A method for communicating between communication devices, comprising:

receiving, using a general protocol, a first message at a first communications device identifying a specific protocol to be used for subsequent messages;

determining if a protocol description corresponding to the specific protocol is available to the first communications device and if the protocol description corresponding to the specific protocol is stored in the memory, transmitting an acknowledge message, otherwise transmitting an error message;

in response to the error message, receiving a second message using the general protocol containing the protocol description for the specific protocol;

executing the received protocol definition to implement the specific protocol at the first communications device; and

receiving, at the first communications device, the subsequent messages using the specific protocol.

44. A communications device capable of communicating with other communications devices, comprising:

a communications circuit for routing communications messages to and from the other communications devices and transferring data to and from the communications device; and

a protocol apparatus that implements protocols used to communicate with the other communications devices, the protocol apparatus comprising;

a memory for storing at least one protocol definition, each protocol definition defining a corresponding protocol and being in a communications device-independent protocol description language,

a protocol interpreter that executes the stored protocol definition to implement the corresponding protocol, and

a bootstrap interpreter that inputs a message received from one of the other communications devices, the message being in a general protocol and containing a protocol definition defining a received protocol, stores the received protocol definition in the memory, and causes the protocol interpreter to execute the received protocol definition to implement the received protocol, and enables the communications device to receive subsequent messages from the one other communications device using the received protocol.

45. A communications device capable of communicating with other communications devices, comprising:

a communications circuit that processes communication messages from the other communications devices, at least one of the communication messages specifying a protocol definition;

a protocol apparatus that implements a protocol used to control communication sessions with the other communications devices, comprising;

a memory for storing at least one protocol definition, each protocol definition defining a corresponding protocol and being in an independent protocol description language;

a protocol instruction interpreter that executes a protocol definition stored in the memory; and

a bootstrap interpreter that inputs a message received from one of the other communications devices, the message containing a protocol definition, stores the received protocol definition in the memory, and causes the protocol instruction interpreter to execute the received protocol definition.

46. A protocol for communicating between elements, comprising:

a resident portion, the resident portion present in each element; and

a non-resident portion that is transmittable from a first one of the elements to the second one of the elements, subsequent communications between the first and second elements performed based on the non-resident portion of the protocol.