DCE to DTE connection adapter for communication device

• US 7,599,387 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanden Retail Systems Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tabata, Masaru, Iwazaki, Wataru, Nakajima, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ng; Fan
• Application Number:
  US11/373,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 379/1.01, 379/9, 379/15.01
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A connection adapter converts in accordance with prescribed rules into a form suitable for a second communication device, transmits or discards data transmitted by high-level equipment for use by a first communication device, and also converts in accordance with prescribed rules into a form suitable for the high-level equipment, transmits or discards data received from the second communication device.

Claims

1. A connection adapter for connecting high-level equipment and a first communication device, wherein:

said high-level equipment comprises Data Terminal Equipment;

said first communication

device comprises Data Circuit-terminating Equipment for a first network connection service;

said high-level equipment is designed to be connectable to a second communication device;

said second communication device comprises Data Circuit-terminating Equipment for a second network connection service; and

said connection adapter comprises a communication control unit configured to;

convert, in accordance with prescribed rules, first data received from the high-level equipment and for use by the second communication device, the first data converted so as to be normally processible by the first communication device;

transmit the converted first data to the first communication device or relay the received first data to the first communication device intact or discard the received first data;

convert, in accordance with other prescribed rules, second data received from the first communication device, the second data converted so as to be normally processible by the high-level equipment; and

transmit the converted second data to the high-level equipment or relay the received second data to the high-level equipment intact or discard the received second data.

2. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein:

a fixed IP address is allocated to a second communication device terminal in said second network connection service; and

an IP address is dynamically assigned to a first communication device terminal in said first network connection service.

3. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein said communication control unit, while connected to a network by the first network connection service, is configured to:

convert an IP address, for use in the second network connection service and contained in a packet received from the high-level equipment, into an IP address for use in the first network connection service; and

convert an IP address, for use in the first network connection service and contained in a packet received from the first communication device, into an IP address for use in the second network connection service.

4. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein:

said second network connection service permits a terminal having a pre-allocated fixed IP address and a pre-allocated fixed telephone number to communicate in said second network connection service; and

said connection control unit is further configured to perform a process for authentication of, and establishment of, a connection to the first network connection service by using the first communication device, when a request for connection pertaining to the second network connection service is received from the high-level equipment.

5. The connection adapter according to claim 4, wherein the authentication of a connection to said first network connection service is processed in accordance with a Password Authentication Protocol (PAP).

6. The connection adapter according to claim 4, wherein the authentication of a connection to said first network connection service is processed in accordance with a Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP).