Method of setting up data communication with a communication means and furthermore program modules and means therefor

• US 6,823,390 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2000
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Vanderstraeten, Hans, Chantrain, Dominique, Bauwens, Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Application Number:
  US09/615,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 370/469, 370/446, 707/102, 709/228, 709/221, 709/224, 709/239, 713/201, 379/229, 455/433, 455/552
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of setting up data communication with a communication means (TERA), a first (TERA) and a second (TERB) communication means therefor, set-up program modules (PMPA and PMPB) therefor, a test means (CK) therefor and a test module (PMCK) for a test means. The first communication means (TERA) possesses at least one protocol module (P11A, P21A and BA) for data communication via at least one first layer of a communication protocol. The second communication means (TERB) sends a test means (CK) at least one target protocol property of the at least one first or one second layer of the protocol for data communication with the first communication means (TERA). The first communication means (TERA) sends the test means at least one actual protocol property of the at least one layer, able to be processed by the at least one protocol module (P11A, P21A and BA), of the protocol. The test means compares the at least one actual protocol property with the target protocol property. After this, in manner dependent on the respective result, the test means sends the first (TERA) and/or the second (TERB) communication means an instruction for the execution of a subsequent action.

Claims

1. A method for setting up data communication with a first communication means having a first protocol module for data communication via a communication protocol, the first protocol module including program code able to be executed by a control means of the first communication means, said method comprising:

transmission by a second communication means of a target protocol property of a second protocol module to a test means that includes a controller, a communicator for transmission and reception between said first communication means and said second communication means and an instruction in a memory,

determination by the first communication means of an actual protocol property of the first protocol module,

transmission by the first communication means to the test means of the actual protocol property,

comparison by the test means of the actual protocol property with the target protocol property, and

transmission by the test means of an instruction to the first communication means to install a third protocol module, which comprises program code able to be executed by the control means of the first communication means for data communication in a manner dependent on the target protocol property, wherein, subsequent to the installation of the third protocol module, the first communication means communicates data to the second communication means without passing the data through the test means.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first communication means determines a second actual protocol property of the communications protocol,

the first communication means sends the test means the second actual protocol property,

the test means compares the second actual protocol property with the target protocol property and

in a manner dependent on the first actual protocol property and on the second actual protocol property, the test means instructs the first communication means for use of at least one of the first protocol module and the second protocol module.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein for the target protocol property or the first actual protocol property, at least one parameter is transmitted for the identification of a first protocol layer or a second protocol layer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein for the target protocol property or the first actual protocol property, at least one parameter is transmitted indicative of the description of functions of a first protocol layer or a second protocol layer.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein for the target protocol property or the actual protocol property, at least one parameter is transmitted for compatibility of a first protocol layer or a second protocol layer.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the target protocol property and the first actual protocol property is transmitted as metadata and modeled by means of a schema language.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second communication means or the test means of the first communication means transmits an instruction for the transmission of the first actual protocol property.

8. A set-up module for a first communication means, which comprises a first protocol module for communication via a communication protocol,

said first protocol module and said set-up module respectively containing program code able to be executed by a control means of the first communication means,

the set-up module comprising recognition means for detection of an actual protocol property of the communications protocol,

said set-up module comprising transmission means for transmission of the first actual protocol property to a test means, and

said set-up module possessing receiving means for receiving an instruction from said test means to install a second protocol module dependent upon the result of a comparison performed by the test means of the first actual protocol property and a target protocol property of a second communications means, wherein the second protocol module comprises program code able to be executed by the control means of the first communication means for data communication in a manner dependent on the target protocol property of the second communication means, wherein, subsequent to the installation of the second protocol module, the first communication means communicates data to the second communication means without passing the data through the test means.

9. A test module for a test means for setting up data communication for a communication means, which comprises a first protocol module for data communication via a communication protocol, the first protocol module comprising program code able to be executed by a control means of the communication means,

said test module containing program code able to be executed by a control means of the test means and a connector coupled between the first communication means and a second communication means to perform transmission and reception therefor,

said test module comprising receiving means for receiving a target protocol property of a second protocol module of the second communication means,

said receiving means being adapted to receive at a first actual protocol property of the communication protocol,

said test module comprising comparison means for comparison of the first actual protocol property with the target protocol property, and

said test module comprising transmission means for the transmission of an instruction to install a third protocol module in the first communication means, which comprises program code able to be executed by the control means of the first communication means for data communication in a manner dependent on the target protocol property of the second communications means as determined by the comparison means, wherein, subsequent to the installation of the third protocol module, the first communication means communicates data to the second communication means without passing the data through the test means.

10. A first communication means for setting up data communication with a second communication means, said first communications means comprising a first protocol module for data communication via a communication protocol,

said first protocol module comprising a program code able to be executed by a control means of the first communication means,

said first communication means comprising recognition means for detection of an actual protocol property of the communication protocol,

said first communication means comprising transmission means for the transmission of the actual protocol property to a test means, and

said first communication means comprising receiving means for receiving an instruction from said test means to install a second protocol module dependent upon the result of a comparison performed by the test means of the first actual protocol property and a target protocol property of a second communications means, wherein the second protocol module comprises program code able to be executed by the control means of the first communication means for data communication in a manner dependent on the target protocol property of the second communication means, wherein, subsequent to the installation of the second protocol module, the first communication means communicates data to the second communication means without passing the data through the test means.

11. A test means for setting up data communication with a first communication means, which comprises a first protocol module for data communication via a communication protocol, said first protocol module containing a program code able to be executed by a control means of the first communication means,

said test means comprising receiving means for receiving a target protocol property of a second protocol module of a second communications means,

said receiving means being adapted for receiving a first actual protocol property of the communications protocol,

said test means comprising comparison means for comparison of the first protocol property with the target protocol property, and

said test means comprises transmission means for the transmission of an instruction to install a third protocol module in the first communication means, which comprises program code able to be executed by the control means of the first communication means for data communication in a manner dependent on the target protocol property of the second communications means as determined by the comparison means, wherein, subsequent to the installation of the third protocol module, the first communication means communicates data to the second communication means without passing the data through the test means.

12. A computer-readable memory medium comprising at least a set-up module for a first communication means and a first protocol module for communication via a communication protocol,

said at least one first protocol module and said set-up module respectively containing a program code able to be executed by a control means of the first communication means, said computer-readable memory medium further comprising a test module containing program code able to be executed by a test means for setting up data communication with the first communication means, and said computer-readable memory medium further comprising a set-up module for a second communication means for setting up data communication with the first communication means, said set-up module containing a second protocol module with program code able to be executed by a control means of the second communication means, wherein:

said set-up module for said first communication means comprises recognition means for detection of an actual protocol property of the first protocol module;

transmission means for transmission of the first actual protocol property to a test means; and

receiving means for receiving an instruction, in which the first communication means is instructed to execute a subsequent action in a manner dependent on the at least one first actual protocol property;

said test module containing program code able to be executed by a control means of the test means, said test module comprising receiving means for receiving a target protocol property of the second protocol module of the second communication means, said receiving means being adapted to receive a first actual protocol property of the first protocol module, comparison means for comparison of the first actual protocol property with the target protocol property and transmission means for the transmission of an instruction to the first communication means to install a third protocol module dependent upon the result of a comparison performed by the test means of the first actual protocol property and a target protocol property as determined by the comparison means, wherein, subsequent to the installation of the third protocol module, the first communication means communicates data to the second communication means without passing the data through the test means; and

said set-up module for said second communication means comprises transmission means for the transmission of the target protocol property of the second protocol module to the test means.

13. An apparatus for managing data communication, comprising:

a first terminal having first protocol module processing a first layer communication protocol and configured to generate an actual protocol property for said first layer communication protocol;

a second terminal having a second protocol module processing the first layer communication protocol and configured to generate a target protocol property for said first layer communication protocol;

a test server, communicative with said first terminal and said second terminal, that receives said actual protocol property and said target protocol property from said first terminal and said second terminal, respectively, and compares said actual protocol property to said target protocol property to determine a correlation therebetween, said test server outputting to said first terminal an instruction to install a third protocol module that corresponds to said second protocol module; and

a software server that provides said third protocol module to said first terminal in accordance with a request from said first terminal based on said instruction, wherein, subsequent to the installation of said third protocol module, said first terminal communicates said data to said second terminal without passing said data through said test server.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, said test server comprising:

a memory configured to store commands to perform said comparison and generate said correlation and said instruction;

a connector configured to request and receive said target protocol property from said second terminal, receive said actual protocol property from said first terminal, and transmit said instruction to said first terminal; and

a controller that controls operation of said memory and said connector.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said test server is coupled between said first terminal and said second terminal and is located in a network, and said software server is coupled to said first terminal and is located in a network.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first terminal is configured to be modified to perform video on demand data communication.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, said first terminal further comprising:

a controller that interfaces with said first protocol module;

a test module configured to perform said comparison and generate said instruction and said correlation; and

a determiner that determines said actual protocol property and generates a parameter to be passed to at least one of said test module and said test server.