Generic communications protocol translator

• US 6,785,730 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Rebecca S. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Rebecca S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLYNN, KIMBERLY D
• Application Number:
  US09/442,683
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/232, 709/238, 709/246, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The generic protocol translator enables a robust communication link between devices where communication and the exchange of information is currently either very difficult or impossible. The generic protocol translator frees device developers from concerning themselves with the details of existing and future protocols, data formats or application semantics that they must support for inter-device compatibility. A receiver circuit manager receives source information using a socket-type interface. The source information then passes through a receiver, a message queue, a message router, and a message converter, which converts the information to the destination format using a multi-stage pipelined poly-dimensional finite state automata based conversion process. The converted message is then sent to the destination device via the message router after being reformatted into the destination protocol identified during the conversion process. The use of finite state automata to the problem of multiple communications protocols, device types and applications enables rapid support of new devices, applications and communications protocols, while providing significant advantages in terms of simplicity and ease of use.

Claims

1. A generic protocol translator apparatus capable of translating information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

a receiver circuit manager, said receiver circuit manager further comprises a plurality of interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

one or more receivers, said receivers receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

one or more message converters, said message converters convert the information to the destination format using a finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

a message router, said message router determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

one or more message senders, said message senders transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

2. The generic protocol translator of claim 1, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a protocol discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a source protocol type identifier, a connection status identifier, and a destination protocol type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a protocol action index, said protocol action index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a protocol variable that comprises the connection status identifier, an identifier associated with a category of similar source protocols, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination protocols.

3. The generic protocol translator of claim 1, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a device discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a protocol action index, a source device type identifier, and a destination device type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a device index, said device index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a device variable that comprises said protocol action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source devices, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination devices.

4. The generic protocol translator of claim 1, wherein a input variables to said stage further comprise a device index, a source application type identifier, and a destination application identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises an application index, said application index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to an application variable that comprises said device index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source applications, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination applications.

5. The generic protocol translator of claim 1, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a format discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise an application index, a source format type identifier, and a destination format type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a format index, said format index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a format variable that comprises said application action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source formats, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination formats.

6. The generic protocol translator of claim 1, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an action selector stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise at least a format index and a current automata state identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises the next automata state identifier and an action, said action further comprises a series of executable instructions to perform one or more of the following actions:

do nothing, modify the incoming message, send a message to the destination device, reject the incoming message, and send a message to the source device.

7. A generic protocol translation system capable of translating information from a source device to a destination device, comprising:

a receiver circuit manager, said receiver circuit manager further comprises a plurality of interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

one or more receivers, said receivers receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

one or more message converters, said message converters convert the information to the destination format using a finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein, each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

a message router, said message router determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

one or more message senders, said message senders transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

8. The generic protocol translation system of claim 7, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a protocol discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a source protocol type identifier, a connection status identifier, and a destination protocol type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a protocol action index, said protocol action index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a protocol variable that comprises said connection status identifier, an identifier associated with a category of similar source protocols, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination protocols.

9. The generic protocol translation system of claim 7, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a device discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a protocol action index, a source device type identifier, and a destination device type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a device index, said device index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a device variable that comprises said protocol action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source devices, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination devices.

10. The generic protocol translation system of claim 7, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an application discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a device index, a source application type identifier, and a destination application identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises an application index, said application index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to an application variable that comprises said device index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source applications, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination applications.

11. The generic protocol translation system of claim 7, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a format discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise an application index, a source format type identifier, and a destination format type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a format index, said format index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a format variable that comprises said application index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source formats, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination formats.

12. The generic protocol translation system of claim 7, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an action selector stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise at least a format index and a current automata state identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises the next automata state Identifier and an action, said action further comprises a series of executable instructions to perform one or more of the following actions:

do nothing, modify the incoming message, send a message to the destination device, reject the incoming message, and send a message to the source device.

13. A method of translating information received from a source device for transfer to a destination device, said method comprises:

receiving information from the source device; and

evaluating said information, and if required, converting said information using a finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein, each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage, said conversion further comprises one or more of the following;

converting said information from the source protocol to the destination protocol, converting said information from the source application format to the destination application format, and converting said information from the source data format to the destination data format.

14. The translation method of claim 13, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a protocol discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a source protocol type identifier, a connection status identifier, and a destination protocol type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a protocol action index, said protocol action index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a protocol variable that comprises said connection status identifier, an identifier associated with a category of similar source protocols, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination protocols.

15. The translation method of claim 13, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a device discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a protocol action index, a source device type identifier, and a destination device type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a device index, said device index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a device variable that comprises said protocol action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source devices, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination devices.

16. The translation method of claim 13, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an application discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a device index, a source application type identifier, and a destination application identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises an application index, said application index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to an application variable that comprises said device index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source applications, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination applications.

17. The translation method of claim 13, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a format discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise an application index, a source format type identifier, and a destination format type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a format index, said format index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a format variable that comprises said application action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source formats, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination formats.

18. The translation method of claim 13, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an action selector stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise at least a format index and a current automata state identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises the next automata state identifier and an action, said action further comprises a series of executable instructions to perform one or more of the following actions:

do nothing, modify the incoming message, send a message to the destination device, reject the incoming message, and send a message to the source device.

19. A method of making a generic protocol translator capable of translating information from a source device to a destination device, said method comprises:

providing a receiver circuit manager, said receiver circuit manager further comprises a plurality of interface sockets, each interface socket is assigned a supported source protocol, said receiver circuit manager receives information from a source device that is intended for a destination device through said interface sockets;

coupling one or more receivers to said receiver circuit manager, said receivers receive information from said receiver circuit manager;

providing one or more message converters, said message converters couple to said receivers and convert the information to the destination format using finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage;

providing a message router, said message router couples to said message converters, said message router determines which destination protocol is appropriate for the information; and

providing one or more message senders, said message senders couple to said message router, said message senders transfer the information in the destination format and protocol to the destination device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a protocol discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a source protocol type identifier, a connection status identifier, and a destination protocol type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a protocol action index, said protocol action index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a protocol variable that comprises said connection status identifier, an identifier associated with a category of similar source protocols, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination protocols.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a device discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a protocol action index, a source device type identifier, and a destination device type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a device index, said device index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a device variable that comprises said protocol action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source devices, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination devices.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an application discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a device index, a source application type identifier, and a destination application identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises an application index, said application index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to an application variable that comprises said device index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source applications, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination applications.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a format discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise an application index, a source format type identifier, and a destination format type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a format index, said format index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a format variable that comprises said application action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source formats, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination formats.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an action selector stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise at least a format index and a current automata state identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises the next automata state identifier and an action, said action further comprises a series of executable instructions to perform one or more of the following actions:

do nothing, modify the incoming message, send a message to the destination device, reject the incoming message, and send a message to the source device.

25. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of translating information received from a source device for transfer to a destination device, said method comprises:

receiving information from the source device; and

evaluating said information, and if required, converting said information using a finite state automaton that further comprises a multi-stage pipeline comprising a first stage and a plurality of subsequent stages, wherein, each stage of said multi-stage pipeline further comprises a matrix wherein a result is obtained as a function of one or more input variables, wherein one of said input variables of each said subsequent stage further comprises the result from a prior stage, said conversion further comprises one or more of the following;

converting said information from the source protocol to the destination protocol, converting said information from the source application format to the destination application format, and converting said information from the source data format to the destination data format.

26. The program storage device of claim 25, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a protocol discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a source protocol type identifier, a connection status identifier, and a destination protocol type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a protocol action index, said protocol action index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a protocol variable that comprises said connection status identifier, an identifier associated with a category of similar source protocols, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination protocols.

27. The program storage device of claim 25, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a device discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a protocol action index, a source device type identifier, and a destination device type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a device index, said device index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a device variable that comprises said protocol action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source devices, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination devices.

28. The program storage device of claim 25, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an application discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise a device index, a source application type identifier, and a destination application identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises an application index, said application index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to an application variable that comprises said device index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source applications, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination applications.

29. The program storage device of claim 25, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises a format discriminant stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise an application index, a source format type identifier, and a destination format type identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises a format index, said format index further comprises an identifier that corresponds to a format variable that comprises said application action index, an identifier associated with a category of similar source formats, and an identifier associated with a category of similar destination formats.

30. The program storage device of claim 25, wherein a stage of said multi-stage pipeline comprises an action selector stage, said input variables to said stage further comprise at least a format index and a current automata state identifier, and said result obtained from said stage further comprises the next automata state identifier and an action, said action further comprises a series of executable instructions to perform one or more of the following actions:

do nothing, modify the incoming message, send a message to the destination device, reject the incoming message, and send a message to the source device.