Method for maintaining communication between communication devices having inconsistent protocols
First Claim
1. A method comprising a sending device performing steps of:
- maintaining a protocol register containing a first and second protocol;
determining whether a peer device is using a protocol inconsistent with the first protocol;
if the peer device is determined to be using a protocol inconsistent with the first protocol, retrieving the second protocol from the protocol register; and
attempting delivery of a message from the sending device to the peer device using the second protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for supporting communication between communication devices (102, 104, 106) having inconsistent protocols, such as may result from protocol changes or upgrades. Protocol registers (302, 304) maintained in association with the communication devices contain respective first and second protocols (e.g., current and previous protocols) of the communication devices. A sending (or receiving) device, upon being upgraded from protocol C to N, updates (206) its protocol register to indicate N as the current protocol and C as the previous protocol. The device initially attempts to send (222) a message (or attempts 212 to recognize a message) using its current protocol N and, if that fails, the device sends (230) (or attempts 216 to recognize the message) using its previous protocol C. In such manner, when a communication device is upgraded to a new protocol causing a protocol inconsistency with a peer device, the communication device may revert to its previous protocol to restore communication relatively quickly.
58 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising a sending device performing steps of:
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maintaining a protocol register containing a first and second protocol;
determining whether a peer device is using a protocol inconsistent with the first protocol;
if the peer device is determined to be using a protocol inconsistent with the first protocol, retrieving the second protocol from the protocol register; and
attempting delivery of a message from the sending device to the peer device using the second protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising a receiving device performing steps of:
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maintaining a protocol register containing a first and second protocol associated with the receiving device;
receiving a message from a peer device;
attempting to process the message using the first protocol;
if the receiving device is unable to process the message using the first protocol, retrieving the second protocol from the protocol register; and
attempting to process the message using the second protocol. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a communication system including at least a first and second device adapted for communication using a common protocol, the first and second device being subject to protocol upgrades at different times causing a protocol inconsistency, a method comprising:
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sending, from the first device to the second device, a message using a current protocol of the first device;
attempting, by the second device, to process the message using a current protocol of the second device;
if the second device is unable to process the message using the current protocol of the second device, attempting, by the second device, to process the message using a previous protocol of the second device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification