Communication method and an interface device
AssigneeMillennium Technology, Inc.
InventorsRonald Joseph Dedera, Andrew Noel Dowden
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Abstract
An interface device enabling communication between devices irrespective of the communication protocol of each device. The interface device consists of a plurality of software engines (L1-L3) operating at successive levels of abstraction. The lowest level (L1) deals with device and interfacing whilst the highest level (L3) deals with the business application layer. The interface to each device thus requires only data regarding the interface to a single device rather than specific interface information for any two given devices.
Claims21
A method of communicating between a first device operating under a first protocol and a second device operating under a second protocol using a plurality of processing levels, the method comprising:
- receiving received data from the first device according to the first protocol;
- extracting the received data according to a generic intermediate data format to yield extracted data;
- reformatting the extracted data according to the second protocol to yield reformatted data;
- transmitting the reformatted data to the second device according to the second protocol;
- and
- obtaining protocol interface data from configuration data related to a processing level of a plurality of engines,
- wherein at least one engine in the plurality of engines is used for each of the input stage, being steps a and b, and the output stage being steps c and d,
- wherein each engine in the plurality of engines has differently configured protocol interface data obtained from the configuration data to enable configuration of a processing level in each engine, and
- wherein operation of the processing level of each engine is defined by the configuration data associated with the processing level of the engine to provide dynamic control.
An interface device including:
- a communications port;
- a first interface layer for handling device interface with the communications port;
- a second layer for handling device functionality;
- and
- a third layer for handling cross-communication;
- wherein two or more of the layers are performed by a corresponding engine and
- wherein the engines obtain protocol interface data from configuration data related to the corresponding computer processing level of the engines, and wherein the engines have differently configured protocol interface data obtained from the configuration data to enable configuration of a processing level in the engines, and wherein operation of the processing level of each engine is defined by the configuration data associated with the processing level of the engine to provide dynamic control.
A system for providing an interface to communicate with a device including:
- an interface device comprising a chain of two or more engines wherein each engine is upper interfaced to the engine preceding it and lower interfaced to the engine following it;
- a first engine in the chain providing an upper interface;
- and
- a last engine in the chain adapted to manage and execute a lower direct interface with a device;
- wherein the upper interface of the first engine provides a generic intermediate interface of the highest computer processing level of abstraction and each successive member of the chain provides a decreasing computer processing level of abstraction, wherein each member transforms data received through its upper and lower interfaces according to that member's computer processing level of abstraction, wherein each engine in the chain of engines obtains protocol interface data from configuration data related to a computer processing level of abstraction, and wherein each engine in said chain of engines has differently configured interface data and operation at each computer processing level for each engine is defined by the configuration data associated with the computer processing level of the engine to provide dynamic control.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.