System for checking status of supported functions of communication platforms at preselected intervals in order to allow hosts to obtain updated list of all supported functions
First Claim
1. In a computing network environment having a gateway device, said gateway device being electronically connected from one side to at least one initiating host and at another side to at least one receiving host, an apparatus for dynamically configuring and monitoring all hosts connected to said gateway device comprising:
- a special function table for storing all possibly available functions that can be provided by all available different communication platforms;
a memory location accessible by said gateway device for storing said special function table;
determining means for obtaining a list of all supported functions provided by particularly associated communication platform;
comparison component for identifying subset of supported functions present in and entering them in said special function table representing all possible functions;
monitoring component for checking status of all supported functions at preselected intervals to see if additions and deletions are made to said list of supported functions;
means for making alterations and modifications to said special function table as to reflect supported function additions and deletions to said supported function list; and
said special function table also being accessible to all hosts through said gateway device so as to allow all said hosts to obtain an updated list of all supported functions at any one time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for dynamically providing a host information about all functions supported by a communication platform provided in a computing network environment. The computing network environment also has a gateway device besides the associated communication platform which can be of any specific type, as well as at least having an initiating host and at least one receiving host that are electronically connected to the gateway device. The apparatus comprises a special function table for storing all possibly available functions that can be provided for all available commercial communication platforms as well as a memory location accessible by said gateway device for storing said special function table. Determining means then will obtain a list of all supported functions provided by said particularly associated communication platform and through the use of a comparison component provides information about all supported functions in the same special function table. All supported functions are then checked by a monitoring component to modify the function table in case of additions or deletions. In this manner any host can obtain an updated list of all available and supported functions at any time and even select an option from the list if desired.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. In a computing network environment having a gateway device, said gateway device being electronically connected from one side to at least one initiating host and at another side to at least one receiving host, an apparatus for dynamically configuring and monitoring all hosts connected to said gateway device comprising:
-
a special function table for storing all possibly available functions that can be provided by all available different communication platforms; a memory location accessible by said gateway device for storing said special function table; determining means for obtaining a list of all supported functions provided by particularly associated communication platform; comparison component for identifying subset of supported functions present in and entering them in said special function table representing all possible functions; monitoring component for checking status of all supported functions at preselected intervals to see if additions and deletions are made to said list of supported functions; means for making alterations and modifications to said special function table as to reflect supported function additions and deletions to said supported function list; and said special function table also being accessible to all hosts through said gateway device so as to allow all said hosts to obtain an updated list of all supported functions at any one time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. In a computing network environment having a gateway device, said gateway device being electronically connected from one side to at least one initiating host and at another side to at least one receiving host, an apparatus for dynamically configuring and monitoring all hosts connected to said gateway device comprising:
-
a special function table for storing all possibly available functions that can be provided by all available different communication platforms; a memory location accessible by said gateway device for storing said special function table; determining means for obtaining a list of all supported functions provided by particularly associated communication platform; comparison component for identifying subset of supported functions present in and entering them in said special function table representing all possible functions; monitoring component for checking status of all supported functions at preselected intervals to see if additions and deletions are made to said list of supported functions; means for making alterations and modifications to said special function table as to reflect supported function additions and deletions to said supported function list; said special function table also being accessible to all hosts through said gateway device so as to allow all said hosts to obtain an updated list of all supported functions at any one time; and means for allowing any host to select any one of said functions supported by said communication platform from said list of supported and available functions by issuing a command after viewing said functions available. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
-
Original AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
-
InventorsRatcliff, Bruce H., Valley, Stephen R.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Meky, Moustafa M.
-
Application NumberUS08/921,441Time in Patent Office851 DaysField of Search709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/228, 709/230, 709/231, 709/233, 709/234, 709/236, 709/238, 709/246, 370/401, 370/402, 370/392, 370/349US Class Current709/224CPC Class CodesH04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a ...
