Distributed-protocol server
First Claim
1. A communications apparatus comprising:
- a first processing entity connecting to a first communications link having a multi-layer first communications protocol, for communicating across the first link via the first communications protocol and terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol, and connecting to a second communications link having a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol, for communicating information expressed in only upper layers of the first communications protocol across the second link via the second protocol; and
a second processing entity connecting to the second link for communicating the information expressed in only the upper layers of the first communications protocol across the second link via the second protocol and for terminating only the upper layers of the first communications protocol.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed processing system (100) includes a protocol server (101) that enables a plurality of clients (103-104) to share the use of one set of Signaling System 7 (SS7) links (99), that centralizes the link-termination circuitry (110) for use by the plurality of clients, and that provides access to upper layers (215-219) of the SS7 protocol stack (200) by distributing the processing of different layers of the stack between the protocol server and the clients. The protocol server terminates the lower layers (210-213) of the SS7 protocol, while each client terminates the upper layers of the SS7 protocol. Communication between the protocol server and the clients of information expressed in the upper layers of the SS7 protocol is effected via the TCP/IP protocol over a LAN (102). A service access bridge process (113, 116) in the protocol server translates between the lower layers of the SS7 protocol and the TCP/IP protocol, and a distributed signaling server process (114, 117) in the protocol server routes communications across the LAN. A distributed signaling client process (121, 124) in each client translates between the TCP/IP protocol and the upper layers of the SS7 protocol. The distributed signaling server and distributed signaling client processes are substantially protocol independent, allowing for use of any protocol in place of the SS7 protocol. The distributed processing system may be either a multiprocessor or a uniprocessor.
148 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A communications apparatus comprising:
-
a first processing entity connecting to a first communications link having a multi-layer first communications protocol, for communicating across the first link via the first communications protocol and terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol, and connecting to a second communications link having a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol, for communicating information expressed in only upper layers of the first communications protocol across the second link via the second protocol; and a second processing entity connecting to the second link for communicating the information expressed in only the upper layers of the first communications protocol across the second link via the second protocol and for terminating only the upper layers of the first communications protocol.
-
-
2. A communications apparatus comprising:
-
a server for communicating over a first communications link that has a first communications protocol comprising a plurality of protocol layers, the server for terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol; a second communications link that has a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol, connected to the server; at least one client of the server connected to the second communications link, for executing an application that uses the first communications protocol to communicate, for terminating only upper layers of the first communications protocol; and the server and the at least one client each further for communicating communications expressed in the first communications protocol between the server and the at least one client over the second communications link by using the second communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A communications apparatus comprising:
-
a server for communicating over a first communications link by using a first communications protocol that comprises a plurality of protocol layers, on behalf of an application that uses the first communications protocol to communicate, the server for terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol; a second communications link connected to the server, at least one client of the server connected to the second communications link, for executing the application and terminating only upper layers of the first communications protocol; and the server and the at least one client each further for communicating communications expressed in the first communications protocol between the server and the at least one client over the second communications link on behalf of the application by using a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A server for a client-server communications apparatus that comprises a first communications link, a second communications link, and at least one client of the server connected to the second communications link for executing an application that communicates by using a first communications protocol having a plurality of protocol layers and for terminating only upper layers of the first communications protocol, the client for communicating communications expressed in the first communications protocol over the second communication link by using a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol, the server comprising:
-
a first arrangement connected to the first communications link for communicating over the first communications link by using the first communications protocol and for terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol; and a second arrangement connected to the first arrangement and to the second communications link for communicating communications expressed in the first communications protocol between the server and the at least one client over the second communications link by using the second communications protocol.
-
-
13. A client for a client-server communications apparatus that comprises a first communications link, a second communications link, and a server connected to the first communications link for communicating over the first communications link by using a first communications protocol that comprises a plurality of protocol layers and for terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol, the server connected to the second communications link for communicating communications expressed in the first communications protocol over the second communications link by using a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol, the client comprising:
-
a first arrangement for executing an application that uses the first communications protocol to communicate and terminating only upper layers of the first communications protocol; and a second arrangement connected to the first arrangement and to the second communications link, for communicating communications expressed in the first communications protocol between the server and the client over the second communications link by using the second communications protocol.
-
-
14. A method of communicating in a client-server communications apparatus comprising a first communications link, a second communications link, a server connected to both the first communications link and the second communications link, and a client of the server connected to the second communications link and executing an application that communicates by using a first communications protocol having a plurality of protocol layers, the method comprising the steps of:
-
terminating only upper layers of the first communications protocol at the client; communicating communications that are expressed in the first communications protocol between the client and the server over the second communications link by using a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; and terminating only lower layers of the first communications protocol on the first communications link at the server. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification