System, method and computer program product for a universal communication connector

• US 7,366,769 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Provost, J. Thomas, Kaan, Keith G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shingles; Kristie D
• Application Number:
  US09/755,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,671 Days
• Field of Search: 709/249, 709/222, 709/220, 709/218, 709/238, 370/389, 370/395.31
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

In one embodiment a system for managing communication on a network includes a host connected to a LAN. In a particular embodiment, the host is in a mobile data acquisition unit for a well-logging operation. The host acquires data from a data acquisition device such as a down-hole transmitter is also connected to the LAN. There is also a router connected to the LAN for connecting to the WAN. The system provides for easily configuring and re-configuring the router, to accommodate the variations in parameters for changing from one network interface device to another. In one aspect the router has a configuration file for performing an initial, automatic configuration when the router is booted. The host has a processor and a storage unit with a software program stored in the storage unit. The configuring of the router by the bootable configuration file enables the router to communicate with the host program so that a user can select a network connection type using an interface of the program on the host, and the program can then further automatically configure the router with parameters for the selected connection type. Despite changes in network connections, the hosts on the LAN do not have to change configuration to communicate on the WAN.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first network;

a data acquisition device connected to the first network;

a second network;

a mobile data acquisition unit consisting of a router and at least one host wherein the at least one host is configured to communicate with the data acquisition device through the first network, wherein the router is configured to communicate with the at least one host, and wherein the router isolates the at least one host and the data acquisition device from the second network;

a template file comprising an operating system command associated with the router, wherein the operating system command comprises a variable; and

a manager program for executing by a processor of the at least one host to assemble first configuring instructions from the template file for configuring the router, wherein network communication is established among the at least one host, the router and a host on the second network responsive to the configuring of the router, and the configuring does not disrupt communication on the first network between the at least one host and the data acquisition device,

wherein the manager program interprets the variable during assembly of the first configuring instructions,

wherein the at least one host has a predetermined configuration, including parameters defining a certain identity, and the configuring includes setting parameters in the router that assign the certain identity to the router, so that the network communication between the at least one host and the router is established by the at least one host recognizing the router identity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuring includes setting parameters in the router for a network connection between the router and the second network, so that the network communication between the second network host and the router is established by the host on the second network recognizing the router identity via the network connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the router comprises a processor, and wherein execution of the configuring instructions by the router processor automatically performs the router configuring.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system comprises second configuring instructions for executing by the router processor upon booting.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the router comprises a storage unit, and the second configuring instructions include instructions stored in a configuration file on the router storage unit.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the router comprises a reader for reading a portable storage device, and the second configuring instructions include instructions stored on an external storage device readable by the router'"'"'s reader.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first configuring instructions include parameters for performing a network login to initialize the network communication on the first network between the router and the at least one host.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuring instructions include configuring the router to substitute a network address of the router in place of a network address of the at least one host for communicating from the at least one host to the host on the second network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuring includes configuring the router to not send addresses of nodes in the first network to other routers.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device comprises a down-hole transmitter.

11. The system of claim 1,

wherein the mobile data acquisition device comprises a plurality of network interface cards,

wherein each of the plurality of network interface cards is configured to enable communication between the first network and the second network over one of a plurality of connection mediums;

wherein the router is configured to interface with each of the plurality of network interface cards,

wherein the router communicates with the second network using a selected one of the plurality of network interface cards.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of connection mediums is one selected from a group consisting of:

satellite, ISDN, DSL, cable modem, wireless, and modem.

13. A method for managing communication comprising:

executing instructions by at least one host to assemble first configuring instructions for a router from a template file, wherein the router and the at least one host are located in a mobile data acquisition unit consisting of the router and the at least one host, wherein the router isolates the at least one host and a data acquisition device from a second network, wherein the data acquisition device, the router and the at least one host are connected to a first network, and the data acquisition device and the at least one host are capable of network communication with one another thereon, and wherein the router is connected to the second network having a host, wherein the template file comprises an operating system command associated with the router and wherein the operating system command comprises a variable;

sending the first configuring instructions by the at least one host to the router; and

executing configuring instructions by the router, including the first configuring instructions, wherein executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises;

configuring the router and establishing communication between the at least one host and the router, wherein the configuring does not disrupt the network communication between the at least one host and the data acquisition device on the first network,

wherein a manager program, for execution by a processor of the at least one host, interprets the variable during assembly of the first configuring instructions,

wherein the at least one host has a predetermined configuration, including parameters defining a certain identity, and wherein the step of executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises;

assigning the certain identity to the router, so that the network communication between the at least one host and the router is established by the at least one host recognizing the router identity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises:

making a network connection between the router and the second network, so that the network communication between a host on the second network and the router is established by the host on the second network recognizing the router identity via the network connection.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein certain ones of the configuring instructions include instructions for executing by the router upon the router booting, and executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises executing the certain ones of the configuring instructions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the router has a storage unit, and the certain ones of the configuring instructions include instructions stored in a configuration file on the router storage unit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the router has a reader, and the certain ones of the configuring instructions include instructions stored on an external storage device readable by the router'"'"'s reader.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises:

logging in to the router to initialize the network communication on the first network between the router and the at least one host.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises the:

configuring the router to substitute a network address of the router in place of a network address of the at least one host for communicating from the at least one host to the host on the second network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of executing the configuring instructions by the router comprises the:

configuring the first router to not send addresses of nodes in the first network to other routers.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the data acquisition device comprises a down-hole transmitter.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of network interface cards to obtain a selected network interface card; and

configuring the router to communicate wit the second network based on the selected network interface card,

wherein the mobile data acquisition device comprises the plurality of network interface cards,

wherein each of the plurality of network interface cards is configured to enable communication between the first network and the second network over one of a plurality of connection mediums;

wherein the router is configured to interface with each of the plurality of network interface cards.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of connection mediums is one selected from a group consisting of:

satellite, ISDN, DSL, cable modem, wireless, and modem.