Method and apparatus for extending point-to-point/asynchronous transfer mode services to client computer systems

• US 7,046,674 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxlinear Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Brabenac, Charles L., Tai, Tsung-Yuan C., Andersen, David B., Kahn, Kevin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Jamal A.
• Application Number:
  US09/940,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.2, 370230-234, 370/395.1, 370/401, 370/402, 370/395, 370/389, 370/408, 370/399, 370/397, 370/396, 370/310, 370/395.51, 370/395.5, 370/395.7, 370/409, 370/410, 370/423, 370/426, 370/905, 370/902, 370/451, 370/364, 370/365, 709201-207, 709213-216, 709/237, 709/253, 709/250, 709/236, 709/238
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks

Abstract

A method for managing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell includes transmitting an ATM cell from a server system to a broadband modem. The ATM cell is forwarded from the broadband modem to a client system.

Claims

1. A method for managing a broadband modem, comprising:

transmitting a discovery signal over a connection;

entering a connect state in response to receiving a discovery acknowledge signal;

recording a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to the broadband modem, the boardband modem to transmit the discovery acknowledge signal in response to the discovery signal; and

transmitting a terminate message to other broadband modems connected to the connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying data formats supported in the discovery signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a poll message to the broadband modem; and

entering a disconnect state if a poll acknowledge message is not received in response to the poll message within a predefined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a sleep message to the broadband modem indicating that its binding client system is about to enter into a sleep state.

6. A method for managing a broadband modem, comprising:

transmitting a discovery acknowledge signal over a transmission medium in response to receiving a discovery signal from a first client computer system;

forwarding asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells between the first client computer system and an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL);

generating and verifying a header error control (HEC) field in the ATM cells;

entering a sleep state and disabling an activity timer upon receiving a sleep message from the first client computer system;

entering a connect state upon receiving a wake-up event from a second client computer system; and

entering a disconnect state if a poll message is not received from the first client computer system within a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising specifying a data format supported by the broadband modem among data formats specified in the discovery signal.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a poll acknowledge message in response to receiving the poll message; and

entering the disconnect state if the poll message is not received within the predetermined period of time.

9. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data including sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

transmit a discovery signal over a connection;

enter a connect state in response to receiving a discovery acknowledge signal;

record a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to a broadband modem, the boardband modem to transmit the discovery acknowledge signal in response to the discovery signal; and

transmit a terminate message to other broadband modems connected to the connection.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the sets of instruction which, when executive by the machine, further cause the machine to specify data formats supported in the discovery signal.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to record a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to:

send a poll message to the broadband modem; and

enter a disconnect state if a poll acknowledge message is not received in response to the poll message within a predefined period of time.

13. A method for establishing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signal for transmitting an ATM cell from a first computer system to a second computer system, comprising:

transmitting the ATM cell from the first computer system to a given one of a plurality of broadband modems, the plurality of broadband modems configured to operate as peripherals;

transmitting a discovery signal from the second computer system to the plurality of broadband modems;

the given one of the plurality of broadband modems transmitting a discovery acknowledge signal to the second computer system in response to the discovery signal to establish a binding between the second computer system and the given one of the plurality of broadband modems; and

the second computer system entering into a connect state with the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to accept the ATM cell from the given broadband modem.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising specifying data formats supported in the discovery signal.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising recording a data format selected by the given one of the plurality of broadband modems in the discovery acknowledge signal.

15. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data including sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

transmit a discovery signal over a connection;

transmit an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell from a first computer system to a given one of a plurality of broadband modems, the plurality of broadband modems configured to operate as peripherals; and

transmit a discovery signal from a second computer system to the plurality of broadband modems;

the given one of the plurality of broadband modems transmit a discovery acknowledge signal to the second computer system in response to the discovery signal to establish a binding between the second computer system and the given one of the plurality of broadband modems;

the second computer system enter into a connect state with the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to accept the ATM cell from the given broadband modem.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to specify data formats supported in the discovery signal.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to record a data format selected by the given one of the plurality of broadband modems in the discovery acknowledge signal.

19. A system for establishing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signal for transmitting an ATM cell from a first computer system to a second computer system, comprising:

the first computer system to transmit the ATM cell to a given one of a plurality of broadband modems, the plurality of broadband modems configured to operate as peripherals;

the second computer system coupled to the first computer system, the second computer system to transmit a discovery signal to the plurality of broadband modems;

the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to transmit a discovery acknowledge signal to the second computer system in response to the discovery signal to establish a binding between the second computer system and the given one of the plurality of broadband modems; and

the second computer system to enter into a connect state with the given one of the plurality of broadband modems to accept the ATM cell from the given broadband modem.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein data formats supported in the discovery signal are specified.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal is recorded.

22. A system for managing a broadband modem, comprising:

the broadband modem to

transmit a discovery acknowledge signal over a transmission medium in response to receiving a discovery signal from a first client computer system;

forward asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells between the first client computer system and an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL);

generate and verifying a header error control (HEC) field in the ATM cells;

enter a sleep state and disable an activity timer upon receiving a sleep message from the first client computer system;

enter a connect state upon receiving a wake-up event from a second client computer system; and

enter a disconnect state if a poll message is not received from the first client computer system within a predetermined period of time.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein data formats supported in the discovery signal are specified.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein a data format selected by the broadband modem in the discovery acknowledge signal is recorded.