Systems, methods and computer program products for employing presumptive negotiation in a data communications protocol

• US 6,401,123 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1998
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Volkmar, Peter Williams, Shields, Ian Beaumont
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/198,381
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/203, 709/234, 709/235
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Presumptive option negotiation is provided between a first entity and a second entity, each of which is operative to communicate according to a communications protocol including a plurality of negotiable options. A first information transfer from the first entity to the second entity is performed according to the communications protocol, the first information transfer including a message indicating support of an option and a message conforming to the option. A second information transfer from the second entity to the first entity it then performed according to the communications protocol, the second information transfer including a message indicating support of the option and a message responding to the message conforming to the option. The first information transfer may include transfer a message indicating support of a terminal type negotiation option and a message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option, and the second information transfer may include transfer of a message indicating support of the terminal type negotiation option and a message responding to the message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option. The communications protocol may include a Telnet or other option-negotiating protocol. Data communications systems, apparatus and computer program products for employing the above-described presumptive negotiation functions are also described.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a first entity and a second entity in a data communications network, the first and second entities operative to communicate according to a communications protocol comprising a plurality of negotiable options, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a first information transfer from the first entity to the second entity according to the communications protocol, the first information transfer including a message indicating support of an option and a message conforming to the option; and

then

performing a second information transfer from the second entity to the first entity according to the communications protocol, the second information transfer including a message indicating support of the option and a message responding to the message conforming to the option.

2. A method according to claim 1:

wherein said step of performing a first information transfer comprises the step of transferring a message indicating support of a terminal type negotiation option and a message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option;

wherein said step of performing a second information transfer comprises the step of transferring a message indicating support of the terminal type negotiation option and a message responding to the message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the communications protocol comprises a Telnet protocol.

4. A method according to claim 2:

wherein said step of performing a first information transfer comprises the step of transferring a message requesting terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by the second entity; and

wherein said step of performing a second information transfer comprises the step of transferring a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by the second entity.

5. A method according to claim 4:

wherein said step of performing a first information transfer comprises the step of transferring a message indicating support of terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by the first entity; and

wherein said step of performing a second information transfer comprises the step of transferring a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by the first entity.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said step of performing a second information transfer is followed by the step of performing a third information transferring including data between the first entity and the second entity responsive to the second information transfer.

7. A method according to claim 6:

wherein said step of performing a third information transfer comprises the step of transferring a combination of data and an option command between the first entity and the second entity responsive to the second information transfer; and

wherein said step of performing a third information transfer is followed by processing the transferred data at the second entity according to the transferred option command.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second information transfers occur via a first interceptor connected to a host application and a second interceptor connected between the first interceptor and a terminal.

9. A method according to claim 8:

wherein said step of performing a first information transfer comprises the step of transferring information from the first interceptor to the second interceptor; and

wherein said step of performing a second information transfer comprises the step of transferring information from the second interceptor to the first interceptor;

and further comprising the steps of;

performing an option negotiation between the terminal and the second interceptor responsive to the first information transfer; and

performing an option negotiation between the host application and the first interceptor responsive to the second information transfer.

10. A data communications system, comprising:

a first entity operative to transmit a first information stream according to a communications protocol including a plurality of negotiable options, the first information stream including a message indicating support of an option and a message conforming to the option; and

a second entity coupled to the first entity and operative to receive the first information stream and to responsively transmit a second information stream according to the communications protocol, the second information stream including a message indicating support of the option and a message responding to the message conforming to the option.

11. A system according to claim 10:

wherein the first information stream includes a message indicating support of a terminal type negotiation option and a message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option; and

wherein the second information stream includes a message indicating support of the terminal type negotiation option and a message responding to the message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the communications protocol comprises a Telnet protocol.

13. A system according to claim 11:

wherein the first information stream includes a message requesting terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by the second entity; and

wherein the second information stream includes a second information stream including a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by the second entity.

14. A system according to claim 13:

wherein the first information stream includes a message indicating support of terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by the first entity; and

wherein the second information stream includes a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by the first entity.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first entity is operative to receive the second information stream and to responsively communicate data with the second entity.

16. A data communications apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a first information stream according to a communications protocol including a plurality of negotiable options, the first information stream including a message indicating support of an option and a message conforming to the option, for receiving; and

means, responsive to said means for receiving, for responsively transmitting a second information stream according to the communications protocol, the second information stream including a message indicating support of the option and a message responding to the message conforming to the option.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16:

wherein the first information stream includes a message indicating support of a terminal type negotiation option and a message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option; and

wherein the second information stream includes a message indicating support of the terminal type negotiation option and a message responding to the message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the communications protocol comprises a Telnet protocol.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17:

wherein the first information stream includes a message requesting terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by the apparatus; and

wherein the second information stream includes a second information stream including a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by the apparatus.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17:

wherein the first information stream includes a message indicating support of terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by a sending entity; and

wherein the second information stream includes a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by the sending entity.

21. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

first computer-readable program code means for receiving a first information stream according to a communications protocol including a plurality of negotiable options, the first information stream including a message indicating support of an option and a message conforming to the option, for receiving; and

second computer-readable program code means, responsive to said first computer-readable program code means, for responsively transmitting a second information stream according to the communications protocol, the second information stream including a message indicating support of the option and a message responding to the message conforming to the option.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21:

wherein the first information stream includes a message indicating support of a terminal type negotiation option and a message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option; and

wherein the second information stream includes a message indicating support of the terminal type negotiation option and a message responding to the message conforming to the terminal type negotiation option.

23. A computer program according to claim 22, wherein the communications protocol comprises a Telnet protocol.

24. A computer program product according to claim 22:

wherein the first information stream includes a message requesting terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by a network entity apparatus; and

wherein the second information stream includes a second information stream including a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by the network entity.

25. A computer program product according to claim 22:

wherein the first information stream includes a message indicating support of terminal type negotiation and a message identifying a terminal type supported by a sending entity; and

wherein the second information stream includes a message confirming terminal type negotiation and a message requesting identification of a terminal type supported by a sending entity.