System and method for permitting a dumb device to create and transmit network packets

• US 6,628,663 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard, Ward, James Peter, Desai, Dhruv M., Ellison, Brandon Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Seema S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boakye, Alexander O.
• Application Number:
  US09/206,014
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 370/463, 370/420, 370/230, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/475, 370/476, 709/224, 709/223, 709/250, 709/218, 709/227, 709/313
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system are described for permitting a dumb device having no operating system to create and transmit a network packet utilizing a network. The dumb device is coupled to a client computer system utilizing the network. A network interface is established within the dumb device. In response to an event, the dumb device generates an internal output signal. The output signal is received within the dumb device by the network interface. In response to a receipt of the output signal, the network interface creates and transmits a network packet including an indication of the event to the client computer system, wherein a dumb device having no operating system creates and transmits a network packet.

Claims

1. A method for permiting a dumb device having no operating system to generate and transmit a network packet utilizing a network, said dumb device being coupled to a client computer system utilizing said network, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a network interface within said dumb device, wherein said network interface includes a network controller and a special purpose processor;

in response to one of a plurality of events, said dumb device generating an associated one of a plurality of internal output signals, wherein each of said plurality of plurality of internal output signals corresponds to a different one of a plurality of commands and wherein said associated internal output signal being received within said dumb device by said network interface;

in response to a receipt of said associated internal output signal at said special purpose processor, said network interface generating and transmitting a network packet including an indication of said event to said client computer system and includes one of said plurality of commands that is associated with said one of said plurality of events, wherein said dumb device having no operating system generates and transmits a network packet, wherein said network packet includes a header packet having an address of said client computer system and a data packet including one of said plurality of commands; and

in response to said client computer system receiving said network packet, said client computer system executing a routine associated with said one of said plurality of commands.

2. A system for permitting a dumb device having no operating system to generate and transmit a network packet utilizing a network, said dumb device coupled to a client computer system utilizing said network, comprising:

a network interface included within said dumb device, wherein said network interface including a network controller and a special purpose processor,

said dumb device responsive to one of a plurality of events to generate an associated one of a plurality of internal output signals, wherein each one of said plurality of internal output signals corresponds to a different one of a plurality of commands and wherein said associated output signal received by said network interface;

in response to a receipt of said associated output signal at said special purpose processor, said network interface creates and transmits a network packet including an indication of said event to said client computer system and includes one of said plurality of commands which is associated with said one of said plurality of events, wherein a dumb device having no operating system creates and transmits the network packet, wherein said network packet includes a header packet having an address of said client computer system and a data packet including one of said plurality of commands; and

in response to said client computer system receiving said network packet, said client computer system executing a routine associated with said one of said plurality of commands.

3. A data processing system including a dumb device having no operating system, and a client computer system, said client computer system coupled to a network, comprising:

said dumb device including a network interface, said network interface including a network controller and a special purpose processing unit;

in response to one of a plurality of events, said dumb device generating one of a plurality of output signals;

said special purpose processing unit receives said one of said plurality of output signals and determines one of a plurality of commands associated with said one of said plurality of output signals;

said special purpose processing unit executing code for creating a network packet including a header packet including an address of said client computer system and a data packet including said one of said plurality of commands;

said network controller transmits said network packet to said client computer system; and

said client computer system executes a routine associated with said one of said plurality of commands.