Network terminal server with full API implementation
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a server having a plurality of communication ports; and
a host computer having a driver communicatively coupling the host computer to the server via a network connection, wherein the driver emulates the communication ports of the server by defining a corresponding local communication port for each of the communication ports of the server, and further wherein the driver includes an application programming interface (API) by which an application program executing on the host computer is granted full control of one of the communication ports of the server, including hardware and software flow control, as if the communication ports of the server were local to the host computer.
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Abstract
A terminal server for providing communication between a host computer and a synchronous, asychronous or parallel communications port across a general purpose network is provided utilizing a unique device driver interface and multiplexing communication protocol. The server communicates data and control commands for multiple ports on a single connection, thereby reducing demands on the network. In addition, genuine TTY devices are made available across the general purpose network which have all the characteristics of local communication ports. The present invention also makes possible access to the ports on the server to multiple host computers located on the network, allowing fair access to shared resources such as modems and printers. Finally, the invention can also be implemented in hardware, further increasing compatibility with existing host computer software and further reducing host computer overhead.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a server having a plurality of communication ports; and a host computer having a driver communicatively coupling the host computer to the server via a network connection, wherein the driver emulates the communication ports of the server by defining a corresponding local communication port for each of the communication ports of the server, and further wherein the driver includes an application programming interface (API) by which an application program executing on the host computer is granted full control of one of the communication ports of the server, including hardware and software flow control, as if the communication ports of the server were local to the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A hardware device for a host computer, wherein the hardware device includes a driver that emulates a plurality of communication ports of a remote server that is communicatively coupled to the host computer via a network connection, wherein the driver defines a corresponding local communication port for each communication port of the server and includes an application programming interface (API) by which an application program executing on the host computer is granted full control of one of the communication ports of the server, including hardware and software flow control, as if the communication ports of the server were local to the host computer.
Specification