System and method for managing packet-switched connections
First Claim
1. A method of managing connections between a plurality of point-of-sale terminals and a host system via a packet-switched network, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a gateway computer that forms a bridge between the point-of-sale terminals and the host system;
embedding connection identification information into a terminal request packet generated by the point-of-sale terminals when a connection is to be established to the host system, the connection identification information including a terminal connection identification variable;
transmitting the terminal request packet to the gateway;
verifying that the gateway and the point-of-sale terminal transmitting the terminal request packet are synchronized by comparing the terminal connection identification variable to a gateway connection identification variable stored at the gateway, wherein the gateway connection identification variable is associated with the particular point-of-sale terminal transmitting the terminal request packet; and
if the gateway and point-of-sale terminal are synchronized, then creating a connection between the gateway and the host system.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for managing connections between one or more local terminals and one or more remote systems over a packet-switched network is disclosed. The invention includes a gateway computer that forms a bridge between the local terminals and the one or more host systems, the gateway and the local terminals including computer software instructions for embedding and filtering special connection identification information in each transaction request. The local terminals embed connection identification information into each request packet requesting a connection to a remote host system, and the gateway filters this information and verifies that the gateway and local terminal(s) are synchronized. The gateway then manages the communication to the host system using the native protocol of the host, thereby minimizing communication over the packet-switched network. By synchronizing the connection attempts of the local terminals to the gateway, problems associated with connecting multiple transaction-generating terminals to one or more host systems via a packet-switched network are minimized.
126 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of managing connections between a plurality of point-of-sale terminals and a host system via a packet-switched network, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a gateway computer that forms a bridge between the point-of-sale terminals and the host system; embedding connection identification information into a terminal request packet generated by the point-of-sale terminals when a connection is to be established to the host system, the connection identification information including a terminal connection identification variable; transmitting the terminal request packet to the gateway; verifying that the gateway and the point-of-sale terminal transmitting the terminal request packet are synchronized by comparing the terminal connection identification variable to a gateway connection identification variable stored at the gateway, wherein the gateway connection identification variable is associated with the particular point-of-sale terminal transmitting the terminal request packet; and if the gateway and point-of-sale terminal are synchronized, then creating a connection between the gateway and the host system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for managing connections between one or more local terminals and a remote host system, comprising:
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a gateway computer system connected between the local terminals and the remote host system; connection protocol software stored at the local terminals for embedding a terminal connection identification variable into request packets generated by the local terminals when the terminal is requesting a connection to a remote host system, wherein the local terminals alter the terminal connection identification variable for each connection request; connection protocol software stored at the gateway computer for extracting the embedded terminal connection identification variable and determining if the gateway and the requesting local terminal are synchronized by comparing the value of the terminal connection identification variable to a stored gateway connection identification variable for the particular local terminal making the connection request. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification