Method and apparatus supporting network communications
US6230193A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the invention includes a method of managing network communications in a network device. The network device includes software components and modules. Some of the components control the interaction between modules, while other components perform specific functions for associated modules. A module manager component controls the creation and destruction of modules as well as their interactions. A communications manager component manages network communications in the network device. The network communications is supported by creating a number of modules that are associated with components that implement different parts of a network protocol. As a result of the use of the modules, a component need not know which other component(s) it depends upon, nor need it know which other component(s) depend upon it. This allows components to be used together very easily in many different configurations. The modules also allow the same component to be used by multiple modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.