Communication protocol converter and method of protocol conversion

• US 8,271,620 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lantronix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lantronix Incorporated
• Inventors: Witchey, Nicholas James
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US10/712,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20050106941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,232 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/232, 709/250, 709/222, 709/224, 709/228, 709/338, 709/223, 710/63, 370/49, 370/467
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a communication protocol converter to allow a legacy device utilizing IPv4 to operate across the network using IPv6. In a first embodiment of the invention, two modular Ethernet connectors are placed side-by-side. A first modular connector receives IPv4 Ethernet data which is converted to a raw data signal. The data is transmitted from the first modular connector to a second modular connector by a bidirectional data line. The second connector receives the raw data, and a raw data-to-Ethernet conversion is completed providing output at IPv6. The present invention utilizes the form factor structure of the Ethernet connectors, so that the entire electronic circuitry is contained within the connectors to complete the conversion. An alternate embodiment incorporates the connectors into a single housing and the conversion is completed internally by a microprocessor and embedded software. A method of IPv4 to IPv6 conversion is additionally disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication protocol converter comprising:

(a) a first Ethernet connector having;

i) a first Faraday shield housing defining an open cavity and a segregated interior chamber, and having mount ground tabs;

ii) the first connector having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity;

iii) at least one circuit board incorporating first Ethernet to raw data conversion circuitry components for a first communication internet protocol disposed within said interior chamber in electrical communication with the electrical contacts of said connector; and

iv) a memory positioned on said circuit board in electrical communication with said conversion circuitry storing instructions that configure the circuitry component to convert between the first communication internet protocol and raw data whereby the memory is interconnected to a bi-directional data line that allows the input and output of raw data;

(b) a second Ethernet connector having;

i) a second Faraday housing defining an open cavity and a segregated interior chamber, and having mount ground tabs;

ii) the second connector having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavity;

iii) at least one circuit board incorporating second Ethernet to raw data conversion circuitry components for a second different communication internet protocol disposed within said interior chamber in electrical communication with the electrical contacts of said second connector;

iv) a memory positioned on said circuit board in electrical communication with said conversion circuitry storing instruction that configure the second circuitry components to convert between said second different communication internet protocol and the raw data wherein the memory is interconnected with the bi-directional line to receive input of raw data from the first modular communication jack and further wherein said memory stores data utilized by a controller block;

v) the controller block, connected to the first Ethernet connector via the bi-directional line, in the form of a microprocessor, which handles all the conversion between raw data the second internet protocol, including processing of digital and analog signals, as well as all of the required code protocol translations, said microprocessor utilizing embedded software to manipulate the data signal to provide data to magnetics wherein said controller block communicates via Ethernet through the second Ethernet connector; and

(c) a bi-directional data interface comprising the bi-directional line, directly and electrically interconnecting said first Ethernet connector with said second Ethernet connector.

2. The communication protocol converter of claim 1 wherein said first internet communication protocol is Internet protocol version 4 and said second communication internet protocol is Internet protocol version 6.

3. The communication protocol converter of claim 1 wherein said first internet communication protocol is Internet protocol version 6 and said second communication internet protocol is Internet protocol version 4.

4. The communication protocol converter of claim 1 wherein said conversion circuitry components of said first and second Ethernet connector includes magnetic circuitry and controller circuitry.

5. The communication protocol converter of claim 4 wherein said conversion circuitry components includes LED circuitry.

6. The communication protocol converter of claim 4 wherein said circuit boards each define first and second opposed sides and said conversion circuitry components are positioned on both first and second sides of said circuit boards.

7. A communication protocol converter comprising:

a Faraday housing defining first and second open cavities and a segregated interior chamber, and having mount ground tabs;

each of said open cavities incorporating a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within said open cavities to form first and second Ethernet connectors as RJ-45 ports wherein said first connector is adapted to interface with a first communication internet protocol and said second connector is adapted to interface with a second different communication internet protocol;

at least one circuit board incorporating communication internet protocol conversion circuitry components disposed within said interior chamber of the housing in electrical communication with the electrical contacts of said first and second connector wherein said conversion circuitry bi-directionally translates between the communication internet protocols wherein the housing allows for the at least one circuit board to electronically communicate directly with both the first connector and the second connector; and

a controller block disposed within the housing including a microprocessor employing embedded software that receives Internet protocol 4 Ethernet data;

removes the Internet protocol 4 header data to form raw data, inserts Internet protocol 6 header data for the raw data, recalculates necessary Internet protocol header fields and outputs corresponding Internet protocol 6 Ethernet data on a one-to-one basis, the embedded software located on memory which is utilized by the microprocessor to perform its functions, the controller block handling all conversions between raw data and Ethernet, including processing of digital and analog signals.

8. The communication protocol converter of claim 7 wherein said protocol conversion circuitry comprises;

a microprocessor incorporating embedded software for converting the first communication internet protocol received at said first connector to a the second different communication protocol output to said second connector.

9. The communication protocol converter of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor converts the second internet communication protocol received at said second connector to the first internet communication protocol output to said first connector.

10. The communication protocol converter of claim 7 wherein said first communication internet protocol is Internet protocol version 4 and said second communication internet protocol is Internet protocol version 6.

11. The communication protocol converter of claim 7 wherein said first communication internet protocol is Internet protocol version 6 and said second communication internet protocol is Internet protocol version 4.