Communications driver subsystem for enabling a digital computer system to establish a communications session with a remote device over a selected one of a plurality of diverse communication media

• US 5,867,662 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Riggs, Justin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Application Number:
  US08/496,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.02, 395/200.03, 395/200.09, 395/200.12, 395/200.2, 395/800, 395/339, 395/347, 395/335, 395/680, 395/681, 395/311, 395/828-858, 395/892 , 395/893, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 395/200.58
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45537 Provision of facilities of other operating environments, e.g. WINE I/O emulation G06F13/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A communications driver is provided for establishing communications sessions between a computer system and a remote device, such as another computer system. The computer system includes a plurality of ports which are connected to a number of diverse types of communications media. At least one of the ports comprises a network port controlled by a network socket driver, so that the communications driver can be used in connection with lower-level networking drivers which may be provided by a variety of manufacturers. The communications driver selectively establishes a communications session such that the computer system will operate as a terminal with the remote device over one of the communications media, as selected by an operator. The communications driver initially enables the operator to identify a communications medium and a remote device, and the driver thereafter selects one of the ports in response to identification by the operator of a communications medium and a remote device. After selecting the port, the driver attempts to establish a communications session with the remote device over the communications medium using the port as selected by said communications path selection element. If successful in establishing the communications session, the communications driver enables communications to proceed such that the computer system will operate as a terminal on the remote device, regardless of the communications media over which they communicate.

Claims

1. For use with a computer system including a plurality of ports connected to a number of diverse types of communications media, a communications driver for selectively establishing a communications session between the computer system operating as a terminal with a remote device over a selected one of said communications media using an associated one of said ports as selected by an operator, at least one of said ports comprising a network port controlled by a network socket driver, the communications driver including:

A. an operator medium selection element for enabling the computer system to, in turn, enable the operator to selectively identify either of said communications media and a remote device;

B. a communications path selection element for enabling the computer system to select one of said ports in response to the identification by the operator of one of said communications media and a remote device;

C. a communications session establishment element for enabling the computer system to establish a communications session with the remote device over the communications medium using the port as selected by the computer system in response to processing controlled by said communications path selection element; and

D. a communications handling element for enabling the computer system to handle communications during the communications session, the communications handling element enabling the computer system to operate as a terminal for processing operations performed by the remote device.

2. A computer program product for use with a computer system including a plurality of ports connected to a number of diverse types of communications media, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium including communications driver code devices for enabling the computer system to selectively establish a communications session between the computer system operating as a terminal with a remote device over a selected one of said communications media using an associated one of said ports as selected by an operator, at least one of said ports comprising a network port controlled by a network socket driver, the communications driver including:

A. operator medium selection code devices for enabling the computer system to, in turn, enable the operator to selectively identify either of said communications media and a remote device;

B. communications path selection code devices for enabling the computer system to select one of said ports in response to identification by the operator of one of said communications media and a remote device;

C. communications session establishment code devices for enabling the computer system to establish a communications session with the remote device over the communications medium using the port as selected by the computer system in response to processing controlled by said communications path selection code devices; and

D. communications handling code devices for enabling the computer system to handle communications during the communications session, the communications handling code devices enabling the computer system to operate as a terminal for processing operations performed by the remote device.

3. A method of controlling a computer system including a plurality of ports connected to a number of diverse types of communications media, the method enabling the computer system to selectively establish a communications session between the computer system operating as a terminal with a remote device over a selected one of said communications media using an associated one of said ports as selected by an operator, at least one of said ports comprising a network port controlled by a network socket driver, the method comprising the steps of:

A. enabling the computer system to, in turn, enable the operator to identify either of said communications media and a remote device;

B. enabling the computer system to select one of said ports in response to identification by the operator of one of said communications media and a remote device;

C. enabling the computer system to establish a communications session with the remote device over the communications medium using the port as selected by the computer system; and

D. enabling the computer system to handle communications during the communications session, the communications handling element enabling the computer system to operate as a terminal for processing operations performed by the remote device.

4. A computer system including a plurality of ports connected to a number of diverse types of communications media, at least one of said ports comprising a network port controlled by a network socket driver, the computer system including:

A. an operator medium selection element for enabling the operator to identify either of said communications media and a remote device;

B. a communications path selection element for selecting one of said ports in response to identification by the operator of one of said communications media and a remote device;

C. a communications session establishment element for establishing a communications session with the remote device over the communications medium using the port as selected by said communications path selection element; and

D. a communications handling element for handling communications during the communications session whereby the computer system will operate as a terminal with processing operations performed by the remote device, thereby to enable the computer system to operate as a terminal for a remote device over a selected one of said communications media using an associated one of said ports as selected by an operator.