Apparatus and method for routing communications between networks and devices
First Claim
1. An interface device for providing communications between a first communications network and a device associated with a second communications network, the interface device comprising:
- an input for receiving data in a first format from the first communications network;
a processor;
memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprisingidentifying the device associated with the second communications network for receiving the data,testing functionality of the second communications network to determine whether the second communications network is functioning properly,wherein testing the functionality of the second communications network comprises sending a ping to the second communications network,in response to determining that the second communications network is functioning properly,identifying a second format compatible with the second communications network, andtranslating the data to the second format,in response to determining that the second communications network is not functioning properly,identifying a device associated with a third communications network for receiving the data,identifying a third format compatible with the third communications network, andtranslating the data from the first format to the third format; and
an output for transmitting the data translated to the second format to the device associated with the second communications network if the second communications network is determined to be functioning properly and for transmitting the data translated to the third format to the device associated with the third communications network if the second communications network is determined not to be functioning properly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for testing communication capabilities of networks and devices are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device for providing communications between a first and a second device comprises an input, logic, and an output. The input of the interface device receives data in a first format from the first device. The logic identifies the second device for receiving the data and identifies a second format compatible with the second device. The data is then translated to the second format. The logic may also determine a status of the interface device by testing components of the interface device to determine if the components are accessible and functioning. The output of the interface device then transmits the translated data to the second device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An interface device for providing communications between a first communications network and a device associated with a second communications network, the interface device comprising:
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an input for receiving data in a first format from the first communications network; a processor; memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising identifying the device associated with the second communications network for receiving the data, testing functionality of the second communications network to determine whether the second communications network is functioning properly, wherein testing the functionality of the second communications network comprises sending a ping to the second communications network, in response to determining that the second communications network is functioning properly, identifying a second format compatible with the second communications network, and translating the data to the second format, in response to determining that the second communications network is not functioning properly, identifying a device associated with a third communications network for receiving the data, identifying a third format compatible with the third communications network, and translating the data from the first format to the third format; and an output for transmitting the data translated to the second format to the device associated with the second communications network if the second communications network is determined to be functioning properly and for transmitting the data translated to the third format to the device associated with the third communications network if the second communications network is determined not to be functioning properly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing communications between a first communications network and a second communications network, comprising:
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receiving, at a processor of an interface device, data in a first format from a first device associated with the first communications network; identifying, by the processor, a second device associated with the second communications network for receiving the data, the second device associated with a second format; testing, by the processor, functionality of the second communications network to determine whether the second communications network is functioning properly, wherein testing the functionality of the second communications network comprises sending a ping to the second communications network; and in response to determining that the second communications network is not functioning properly, then identifying, by the processor, a third device associated with a third communications network for receiving the data, identifying, by the processor, a third format compatible with the third communications network, translating, by the processor, the data from the first format to the third format, and transmitting, by the processor, the data translated to the third format to the third device via the third communications network. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An interface device for providing communications between a first device and a second device, comprising:
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an input for receiving data in a first format from the first device; a processor; memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising identifying a second device for receiving the data via a first communications network, testing functionality of the first communications network to determine whether the first communications network is functioning properly, in response to determining that the first communications network is not functioning properly, identifying a third device for receiving the data via a second communications network, identifying a second format compatible with the third device, translating the data to the second format, and testing functionality of the interface device to determine a status of the interface device, wherein testing the functionality of the interface device comprises testing components of the interface device to determine if the components are accessible and functioning, and wherein testing components of the interface device comprises sending a ping to at least the components of the interface device and waiting for a reply from the components; and an output for transmitting the data translated to the second format to the third device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification