System and method for enabling an IPX driver to accommodate multiple LAN adapters

• US 6,148,344 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Bi, Depeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HONG CHONG
• Application Number:
  US08/553,808
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/469, 370/402, 370/466, 364/468.23, 345/168, 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/500, 395/200.06, 395/282, 395/285, 709/230, 709/227, 709/228, 709/250, 709/220, 710/105
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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

Briefly, the present invention relates to a wireless interface device that can be interfaced to a wired local are a network (LAN) by way of a multiplexer which manipulates the source and destination addresses of the packets in order to be compatible with a standard protocol, such as IPXODI, which normally only supports a single LAN card.

Claims

1. A computer system including a host computer connected in a local area network (LAN), said LAN including said host computer and at least one other computer, the computer system comprising:

first means for enabling said host computer to communicate with said at least one other computer using a predetermined standard protocol with a first LAN card; and

second means for enabling said host computer to communicate with a device external to said LAN by way of a second LAN card;

wherein said predetermined standard protocol is an internet packet exchange open data-link interface (IPXODI) protocol.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said first LAN card is of a first type and said second LAN card is of a second type.

3. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein said first LAN card is a wired LAN card and said second LAN card is a wireless LAN card.

4. A computer system according to claim 1, including means for multiplexing incoming and outgoing data packets among first and second LAN cards in said host computer.

5. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said second enabling means includes means for enabling said first and second LAN cards to simulate a single LAN card.

6. A computer system according to claim 1, said host computer including means for communicating with a wireless interface device.

7. A computer system according to claim 6, said accommodating means including means for enabling said wireless interface device to communicate in said local area network.

8. A method for operating a computer system including a host computer connected in a local area network (LAN), said LAN including at least one other computer, comprising:

enabling said host computer to communicate with said at least one other computer using a predetermined standard protocol, said predetermined standard protocol adapted to support only a single LAN card, defining a first LAN card; and

providing a second LAN card, for enabling said host computer to communicate with a predetermined device by way of a second LAN card in said host computer wherein, said first and second LAN cards are emulated as a single LAN card;

wherein said predetermined standard protocol is an internet packet exchange open data-link interface (IPXODI) protocol.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of LAN cards includes a first LAN card of a first type and a second LAN card of a second type.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said first LAN card is a wired LAN card and said second LAN card is a wireless LAN card.

11. A method according to claim 8, said providing step includes multiplexing incoming and outgoing data packets among said plurality of LAN cards in said host computer.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said accommodating includes simulating a single LAN card.

13. A method according to claim 8, including said host computer communicating with a wireless interface device.

14. A method according to claim 13, said accommodating including enabling said wireless interface device to communicate in said local area network.

15. A computer system comprising, a host computer coupled within a local area network (LAN), said LAN including one other computer, said host computer configured to communicate within said LAN by way of a predetermined first protocol, said predetermined first protocol able to communicate with only a single LAN adapter, said host computer further configured to accommodate two or more LAN adapters and a second protocol, said second protocol for enabling each of said two or more LAN adapters to communicate within said LAN using said predetermined first protocol by enabling said second protocol to manipulate the addresses of each said two or more LAN cards to appear as a single LAN card to said first protocol, wherein said predetermined standard protocol is an internet packet exchange open data-link interface (IPXODI) protocol.

16. A computer system according to claim 15, said host computer further including an interface for communicating with a wireless interface device by way of a remote link.

17. A computer system according to claim 16, said wireless interface device configured to communicate within said LAN by way of at least one of said LAN adapters.

18. A computer system according to claim 15, said plurality of LAN adapters comprising a plurality of LAN cards.

19. A computer system including a host computer connected in a local area network (LAN) having two or more LAN adapter cards, the computer system comprising:

a first communications protocol adapted to enable said host computer to communicate using a predetermined standard protocol, said predetermined standard protocol able to communicate with only one of said LAN adapters cards; and

a second communications protocol adapted to enable said first communications protocol to support said two or more LAN adapter cards in said host computer, said second communications protocol adapted to interleave data from each of said two or more LAN adapter cards to emulate a single LAN adapter card;

wherein said predetermined standard protocol is an internet packet exchange open data-link interface (IPXODI) protocol.