Patent · US Expired

System and method for layering drivers

US6233624A · kind A · utility

105Cited by
5References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 1997
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/4411
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for incorporating intermediate link layer drivers into a network protocol stack is presented. The system and method utilize an abstract interface for interfacing both inputs and outputs of intermediate drivers and for providing an interface for link layer device drivers. The abstract interface provides routing of data packets through the intermediate drivers and device drivers to facilitate the desired data flow. The abstract interface facilitates reuse and portability of intermediate drivers across varying computer platforms. Layering of intermediate drivers also accommodates data flow modification with minimal impact to existing drivers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.