Point-to-point data communication implemented with multipoint network data communication components

• US 7,213,044 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Davis, Glenn, Morris, Larry, Tjong, Soemin
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joo; Joshua
• Application Number:
  US09/945,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/230, 709/203, 709/217, 709/220, 719/321, 719/324
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/322 Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions

Abstract

A data communication system is configured to communicatively link a host device and a client device with a point-to-point data communication link, where the point-to-point data communication link is configured with multipoint network data communication components designed for data communication over a distributed network. A data communication interface at the host device is communicatively linked with a data communication interface driver via the point-to-point data communication link between the host device and the client device. The data communication interface driver communicates with a virtual driver component for the client device via a virtual network at the client device.

Claims

1. A data communication system configured to communicatively link a host device and a remote client device with a point to-point data communication link, the host device and the remote client device each configured for multipoint data communication over a distributed network, the data communication system comprising:

a Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) driver of the host device implemented in the remote client device, the Remote NDIS driver configured to communicatively link with a data Remote NDIS communication interface of the host device via the point-to-point data communication link;

a virtual driver component configured to communicate with the Remote NDIS driver and the remote client device; and

a virtual network configured to communicatively link the Remote NDIS driver and the virtual driver component in the remote client device.

2. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein Remote NDIS communication interface is configured to communicate Remote NDIS messages with the Remote NDIS driver via the point-to-point data communication link.

3. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the virtual network is a local area network.

4. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Remote NDIS driver is further configured to communicate with the virtual driver component via the virtual network.

5. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Remote NDIS driver is further configured to communicate Remote NDIS messages with the virtual driver component via the virtual network.

6. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Remote NDIS communication interface is further configured to communicate with the Remote NDIS driver via the point-to-point data communication link, and the Remote NDIS driver is further configured to communicate with the virtual driver component via the virtual network.

7. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the Remote NDIS communication interface is further configured to communicate Remote NDIS messages with the Remote NDIS driver via the point-to-point data communication link, and the Remote NDIS driver is further configured to communicate the Remote NDIS messages with the virtual driver component via the virtual network.

8. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connection interface configured to couple the point-to-point data communication link with the remote client device.

9. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a Universal Serial Bus data communication interface configured to couple the point-to-point data communication link with the remote client device.

10. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a 1394 bus data communication interface configured to couple the point-to-point data communication link with the remote client device.

11. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a wireless data communication interface configured to couple the point-to-point data communication link with the remote client device.

12. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a Bluetooth data communication interface configured to couple the point-to-point data communication link with the remote client device.

13. A data communication system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an infrared data communication interface configured to couple the point-to-point data communication link with the remote client device.

14. A method for implementing a point to point data communication link between computing devices, the method comprising:

implementing a Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) driver of a host computing device in a remote client computing device, the Remote NDIS driver designed for data communication over a distributed network and configured to communicatively link with a Remote NDIS component of the host computing device via the point-to-point data communication link;

implementing a connection interface to couple the Remote NDIS driver with the host computing device; and

implementing a virtual network to communicatively link the Remote NDIS driver and a virtual driver component of the remote client computing device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the Remote NDIS driver includes implementing a data communication interface driver to communicatively link with a data communication interface of the host computing device via the point-to-point data communication link.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the Remote NDIS driver includes implementing the Remote NDIS driver to communicate Remote NDIS messages with the Remote NDIS component of the host computing device via the point-to-point data communication link.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the connection interface includes providing a point-to-point data communication protocol interface.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the connection interface includes providing a Universal Serial Bus data communication interface.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the connection interface includes providing a 1394 bus data communication interface.

20. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the connection interface includes providing a wireless data communication interface.

21. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the connection interface includes providing a Bluetooth data communication interface.

22. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the connection interface includes providing an infrared data communication interface.

23. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the virtual network includes providing a virtual local area network.

24. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the virtual network includes providing a virtual local area network to communicate Remote NDIS messages between the Remote NDIS driver and the virtual driver component.

25. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein implementing the Remote NDIS driver includes implementing the Remote NDIS driver to communicate Remote NDIS messages with the Remote NDIS component of the host computing device via the point-to-point data communication link, and wherein implementing the virtual network includes implementing a virtual local area network to communicate the Remote NDIS messages between the Remote NDIS driver and the virtual driver component.