Method and apparatus for providing a 3-way connection between a mobile computing device, a stationary computing device and a computer network
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing a three-way connection between a computer network, a stationary computing device, and a mobile computing device, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) network interface means for interfacing said stationary computer to said computer network;
(b) a network operating system on said stationary computing device and including means for processing information packets for and from said computer network;
(c) communication interface means for communicating between said stationary computing device and said mobile computing device and including control means for transmitting and receiving information packets between said stationary computing device and said mobile computing device;
(d) routing means for routing information packets between said computer network, said stationary computing device, and said mobile computing device, said routing means including detector means for detecting connection of a mobile computing device to said communication interface means, and having redirector means responsive to a connection to said mobile computing device for redirecting information packets in the Open System Interconnection standard (OSI), Data Link Layer, Layer 2 between said computer network, said stationary computing device and said mobile computing device using said Data Link Layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing a three-way connection between a mobile computing device, a stationary computing device and a computer network. When there is an established connection between a mobile computing device (e.g. a notebook computer) and the stationary computing device (e.g. desktop PC) over the wireless communication channel (e.g. infrared link), the system operates in BRIDGE mode. In BRIDGE mode the system redirects information packets in the OSI layer 2 (data link layer). When a notebook computer is not attached, the system operates in PASSTHROUGH mode and all non-broadcast message traffic from the Ethernet LAN is filtered by the Ethernet adapter based on the network address or group address of the desktop PC.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing a three-way connection between a computer network, a stationary computing device, and a mobile computing device, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) network interface means for interfacing said stationary computer to said computer network; (b) a network operating system on said stationary computing device and including means for processing information packets for and from said computer network; (c) communication interface means for communicating between said stationary computing device and said mobile computing device and including control means for transmitting and receiving information packets between said stationary computing device and said mobile computing device; (d) routing means for routing information packets between said computer network, said stationary computing device, and said mobile computing device, said routing means including detector means for detecting connection of a mobile computing device to said communication interface means, and having redirector means responsive to a connection to said mobile computing device for redirecting information packets in the Open System Interconnection standard (OSI), Data Link Layer, Layer 2 between said computer network, said stationary computing device and said mobile computing device using said Data Link Layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing a three-way connection for transferring information packets between a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device, and a network, said stationary computing device being coupled to said network through a network adapter, and said mobile computing device utilizing a wireless communication channel for transferring information packets to said stationary computing device, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining if said mobile computing device is coupled to said stationary computing device via said wireless communication channel; (b) redirecting information packets originating from said mobile computing device and destined for said network through said stationary computing device using the OSI Standard Layer 2 Data Link Layer when said wireless communication channel is active as determined in step (a); (c) redirecting information packets originating from said network and destined for said mobile computing device through said stationary computing device using the OSI Standard Layer 2 Data Link Layer when said wireless communication channel is active as determined in step (a). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for use in a computer system comprising a stationary computing device, a mobile computing device and a network, said stationary computing device being coupled to said network and having a network operating system, and said mobile computing device utilizing a wireless communication channel for transferring information packets to said stationary computing device, said computer program product comprising:
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a recording medium; means recorded on said medium for instructing said stationary computing device to perform the steps of; (a) determining if said mobile computing device is coupled to said stationary computing device via said wireless communication channel; (b) redirecting information packets originating from said mobile computing device and destined for said network through said stationary computing device using the OSI Standard Layer 2 Data Link Layer when said wireless communication channel is active as determined in step (a); (c) redirecting information packets originating from said network and destined for said mobile computing device through said stationary computing device using the OSI Standard Layer 2 Data Link Layer when said wireless communication channel is active as determined in step (a). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification