US5659684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for interconnecting personal computers (PCs) and local area networks (LANs) using packet protocols transmitted over a digital data service (DDS)
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1995-02-03
•
Granted: 1997-08-19
•
Expires: 2015-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for providing virtual local connection of one PC to another PC, a PC to a LAN and from one LAN to another LAN, over a synchronous digital wide area network (effectively enabling a LAN to be extended through a synchronous digital wide area network on a virtual basis), using a PC adapter card that includes an on board Data Service Unit (DSU)/Channel Service Unit (CSU), driven by control means that functions at least in part as a LAN interface emulator. The invention includes methods (and corresponding apparatus) for configuring the PC adapter card under program control; for establishing connectivity between at least one PC and at least one LAN, each separately connected to the network, via a gateway access thru the digital wide area network; and for utilizing the PC motherboard microprocessor to run user applications software while simultaneously being able to handle the real time constraints of running packet protocols (e.g., Frame Relay, X.25, SMDS, etc.), using a novel control means.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Joseph Giovannoni
- 👤 Joseph David Kralowetz
- 👤 James Francis Landry
- 👤 Thomas DeBruyne Stearns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/46; H04L12/4641; H04L12/4604
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data and running network applications software, said network applications software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said method comprising: emulating a direct connection between said personal computer and said local area network, wherein said emulating comprises interconnecting a PC adapter card to said personal computer, said PC adapter card emulating a local area network interface card; converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data and transmitting said synchronous bit serial data along said synchronous digital lines between said personal computer and said local area network; and converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data and running network applications software, said network applications software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said method comprising: emulating a direct connection between said personal computer and said local area network, wherein said emulating comprises interconnecting a PC adapter card to said personal computer, said PC adapter card emulating a local area network interface card; converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data and transmitting said synchronous bit serial data along said synchronous digital lines between said personal computer and said local area network; and converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of emulating further comprises: initializing said PC adapter card to a predefined operational state; establishing a network level interface to said digital wide area network via said PC adapter card; providing a software level interface to said network applications software; reformatting data provided via said transmit request signal into a form in which said data can be sent over said digital wide area network; and transmitting the reformatted data onto said digital wide area network via said PC adapter card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of providing a software level interface includes: associating a unique media access control address with said PC adapter card; and providing said unique media access control address to said network applications software.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of emulating further comprises: receiving synchronous bit serial data from said digital wide area network via said PC adapter card; reformatting said synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data format for receipt by said applications software; and providing the reformatted data to said network applications software.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of emulating further comprises: maintaining a network link between said personal computer and said local interface network through said digital wide area network; and monitoring said network link to detect, recover and report errors occurring along said synchronous digital lines of said digital wide area network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of emulating further comprises providing a local area network gateway access through said digital wide area network for establishing connectivity between at least one personal computer and at least one local area network each separately connected to said digital wide area network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of providing said local area network gateway access further comprises implementing said local area network gateway access in the form of an applications software module on a personal computer communicating over said software level interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said PC adapter card is a single integrated plug-in card.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data, and said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said personal computer running networking software, said networking software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said method comprising: installing a pseudo LAN interface card in said personal computer, said pseudo LAN interface card (i) converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data for transmission through said digital wide area network and (ii) converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer; establishing a communications path between said networking software and said pseudo LAN interface card; operating said pseudo LAN interface card to convert asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data; and operating said pseudo LAN interface card to convert synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for transparently interconnecting a personal computer to a local area network through a digital wide area network, said personal computer receiving and transmitting asynchronous parallel data, and said digital wide area network comprising synchronous digital lines carrying synchronous bit serial data, said personal computer running networking software, said networking software providing a transmit request signal including data for transmission to said local area network, said method comprising: installing a pseudo LAN interface card in said personal computer, said pseudo LAN interface card (i) converting asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data for transmission through said digital wide area network and (ii) converting synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data for reception of said asynchronous parallel data by said personal computer; establishing a communications path between said networking software and said pseudo LAN interface card; operating said pseudo LAN interface card to convert asynchronous parallel data to synchronous bit serial data; and operating said pseudo LAN interface card to convert synchronous bit serial data to asynchronous parallel data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4802220A
Cited
US4794644A
Cited
US5060227A
Cited
US5029163A
Cited
US4922503A
Cited
US5177738A
Cited
US5115466A
Cited
US5299314A
Cited
US5058133A
Cited
US5293379A
Cited
US5280529A
Cited
JPH0567014A
Cited
US5323388A
Cited
US5390179A
Cited
JPH0697976A
Cited
US5375124A
Cited
US5416781A
Cited
US5396490A
Cited
US5490252A
Cited
DE4309315A1
Cited
US5440545A
Cited
US5432790A
Cited
JPH0787100A
Cited
US5425029A
Cited
US5506834A
Cited
US5408614A
Cited
US5491693A
Cited
US5436902A
Cited
US5521914A
Cited
US5490140A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-18 | 2001-02-17 | 2001-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-18 | 2005-02-17 | 2005-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-18 | 2009-02-17 | 2009-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |