Method and apparatus for providing proxy service, route selection, and protocol conversion for service endpoints within data networks

• US 6,711,162 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kralowetz, Joseph D., Ortega, Douglas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/547,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/410, 370/464, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/468, 370/469, 370/471, 370/236, 370/241, 370/252, 709/200, 709/220, 709/223, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A device, such as an ADSL modem, acts as a proxy for service endpoints in a data network by responding to service endpoint advertisement messages pursuant to Point to Point Protocol (PPP) over Ethernet (PPPoE), where the terminating equipment located at those service endpoints do not support PPPoE services. The device also supports route selection and transparent protocol conversion of network protocols so that a host computer connected to the device can communicate with the service endpoints where the service endpoints do not support the host computer'"'"'s network protocols (e.g., PPPoE). For example, the device converts PPPoE packets from the host computer to PPP packets and transmits and receives PPP packets with the service endpoint. The invention bridges a huge gap in the existing telecommunications infrastructure. The vast majority of the embedded base of product capable of acting as a service endpoint in the PPPoE protocol (such as the remote access server infrastructure providing dial-up Internet or corporate network access) does not presently support PPPoE protocol, whereas they do support PPP. By providing the proxy service in the device connecting the host computer to the service endpoint (such as a modem, e.g., ADSL modem), the host computer can obtain the benefits of PPPoE with virtually any potential device acting as a service endpoint, since the services provided by PPPoE are supported in the modem acting as a proxy for the service endpoint.

Claims

1. A method of providing transparent support for a protocol for a remote service endpoint, comprising the steps of:

implementing a proxy engine in a computing platform associated with a host computer system;

receiving a message from said host computer system in accordance with said protocol at said proxy engine, said message intended to be transmitted to and responded by said remote service endpoint;

said proxy engine responding to said message for said remote service endpoint and implementing a portion of the protocol intended to be implemented by said remote service endpoint, whereby said proxy engine provides support for said protocol for said remote service endpoint in a manner transparent to said host computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said proxy engine is implemented in a computing platform in a data communications equipment connected to said host computer system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said data communications equipment comprises an ADSL modem and wherein said protocol comprises PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said proxy engine further comprises a packet translation engine converting packets in accordance with said protocol to a second format in accordance with a second protocol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said protocol comprises PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet), and wherein said second protocol comprises PPP (Point to Point Protocol), said packet translation engine converting packets from PPPoE protocol to PPP protocol.

6. A method of providing transparent support for a PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) protocol for a remote service endpoint, comprising the steps of:

sending a query message from a host computer to a data communications equipment connected to said host computer seeking the identification of all available service endpoints;

said data communications equipment responding to said query and identifying a service endpoint that can be accessed by said data communications equipment;

initiating a connection to said service endpoint;

passing data between said host computer and said service endpoint; and

terminating said connection to said service endpoint.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of passing data further comprises the step of converting packets from a first protocol form to a second protocol form in said data communications equipment.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said data communications equipment comprises a asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) modem.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first protocol form comprises a PPPoE format and wherein said second protocol form comprises a PPP format.

10. An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) modem for a host computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit;

an interface to an Ethernet network;

an interface to a telephone line;

a proxy engine providing transparent support for the PPPoE protocol for a remote service endpoint, wherein said proxy engine provides a software routine responding to query messages from said host computer system seeking an identification of a remote service endpoint by identifying a service endpoint that can be accessed by said modem;

said proxy engine initiating a connection to said service endpoint, passing data between said host computer system and said service endpoint, and terminating said connection to said service endpoint.

11. The ADSL modem of claim 10, wherein said modem further comprises a USB interface for connecting said modem to a second general purpose computer, and a software hub enabling said host computer system and second general purpose computer to share files or attached peripheral devices.

12. The ADSL modem of claim 10, wherein said ADSL modem provides transparent support for the establishment and tear-down of dynamic switched virtual circuit connections between said host computer connected to the modem and a remote service endpoint.

13. The ADSL modem of claim 12, wherein said dynamic switched virtual circuits are within an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network.