Dynamic protocol negotiation system

• US 6,125,122 A
• Filed: 01/21/1997
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Leary, Eamon, Favichia, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US08/787,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 370/455, 370/465, 370/466, 370/379, 370/297, 370/296, 370/299, 370/276, 370/467, 370/522, 370/328, 370/445, 370/410, 370/401, 370/469, 370/468, 370/524, 370/230, 370/358
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

Two intelligent nodes are provided with the capability of negotiating a protocol between them so that if the intelligent nodes operate at two different protocols then they can select a protocol appropriate for their communication. Furthermore, the intelligent nodes are provided with a locking shift capability so as to select between codesets that are available within a selected protocol.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a communication protocol between a first network node and a second network node wherein the second network node is capable of operating at any one of a plurality of communication protocols, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the second network node, an indication of the operating communication protocol of the first network node;

based on said indication, selecting as a designated protocol a communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols, wherein said plurality of communication protocols includes at least two protocols related to each other in that one of said protocols is of a later version than the other protocol;

storing an identification of the selected communication protocol in association with said first network node and when subsequently initiating communication from said second network node to said first network node referring to the stored identification to select a communication protocol; and

sending an indication of said designated protocol to the first network node,

wherein after the second network node sends an indication of said designated protocol to the first network node said second network node performing the steps of;

selecting a messaging codeset from a plurality of messaging codeset within said designated protocol; and

indicating the selected messaging codeset to the first network node.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said designated protocol corresponds to the indicated operating communication protocol of the first network node.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said designated protocol corresponds to the protocol of a later version.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said designated protocol corresponds to a protocol of an earlier version.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second network, prior to receiving said indication operates in a first protocol and wherein said designated protocol is a protocol other than said first protocol and the indicated operating communication protocol of the first network node.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the second network node receiving, from the first network node, an indication of a selection of a messaging codeset within said designated protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein after the second network node sends an indication of said designated protocol to the first network node, said network node performing the steps of:

receiving from the first network node, an indication of a selection of a messaging codeset within said designated protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said after the second network node sends an indication of said designated protocol to the first network node, said second network node further performing the steps of:

switching to another messaging codeset from said plurality of messaging codeset within said designated protocol; and

indicating the switched messaging codeset to the first network node.

9. The method of claim 8, further performing the step of:

designating said switched messaging codeset is permanent.

10. The method of claim 8, further performing the step of:

designating said switched messaging codeset is for a next parameter.

11. A network node in a communication system comprising:

a receiver that receives an indication of an operating communication protocol from another network node;

a protocol selector that selects a designated protocol from a plurality of communication protocols wherein said plurality of communication protocols includes at least two protocols related to each other in that one of said protocol is of a later version than the other protocol;

a database for storing an identification of the selected communication protocol in association with said first network node and when subsequently initiating communication from said second network node to said first network node referring to the stored identification to select a communication protocol;

means for sending an indication of said designated protocol to the first network node;

means for selecting one of a plurality of a messaging codesets within said designated protocol; and

means for sending an indication of said selected messaging codeset to the first network node.

12. The network node of claim 11 wherein said designated protocol corresponds to the indicated operating communication protocol of the other network node.

13. The network node of claim 11 wherein said designated protocol is different from the indicated operating communication protocol of the other network node.

14. The network node of claim 11 wherein said node, prior to receiving the indication from the other network node is designated to operate with a first protocol.

15. The network node of claim 14 wherein said designated protocol corresponds to said first protocol.

16. The network node of claim 14 wherein said designated protocol is different from both said first protocol and the indicated protocol of the other network node.

17. The network node of claim 11 further comprising:

means for switching to another messaging codeset from said plurality of messaging codesets within said designated protocol; and

means for indicating the switched messaging codeset to the first network node.

18. The network node of claim 17 further comprising:

means for designating said switched messaging codeset is permanent.

19. The network node of claim 17, further comprising:

means for designating said switched messaging codeset is for a next parameter.

20. A method for negotiating a common communication protocol between a first network node operating in a preferred mode at a first protocol and second network node operating in a preferred mode at a second protocol, said method comprising the steps of:

said first network node transmitting an indication of said first protocol to said second network node;

said second network node comparing the indication of said first protocol to an identification of said second protocol, wherein said first protocol and said second protocol are related to each other in that said first protocol is of a later version than said second protocol;

based on said comparison said second network node selecting a communication protocol for communication between said first network node and said second network node;

storing an identification of the selected communication protocol in association with said first network node and when subsequently initiating communication from said second network node to said first network node referring to the stored identification to select a communication protocol;

sending an indication of the selected communication protocol from said second network node to said first network node;

communicating between said first and second network nodes using the selected communication protocol; and

selecting a messaging codeset from a plurality of messaging codesets within the selected communication protocol and identifying the selected messaging codeset to the other one of said first and second network nodes.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said selected communication protocol corresponds to said first protocol.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said selected communication protocol corresponds to said second protocol.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said selected communication protocol corresponds to a third protocol that differs from both said first and second protocols.

24. The method of claim 20, further performing the steps of:

switching to another messaging codeset from said plurality of messaging codeset within said selected communication protocol; and

indicating the switched messaging codeset to the other one of said first and second network nodes.

25. The method of claim 24, further performing the step of:

designating said switched messaging codeset is permanent.

26. The method of claim 24, further performing the step of:

designating said switched messaging codeset is for a next parameter.