Method and device for configuring a link

A communication device that is controlled to be connected to another communication device by a communication link, said device being controlled for configuring said communications link for packet exchange, where one of said two communication devices is on the other side connected to a packet exchange network conforming to a first protocol (IP), wherein said controlling comprises the possibility of controlling said device such that the communication between said communication over said link is conducted by exchanging packets in accordance with a second predetermined protocol (PPP) that encapsulates at least said first protocol (IP) and comprises a third protocol (LCP) for establishing and configuring said link, and wherein said second protocol (PPP) requires that

• a packet sent over said link comprises a protocol field (1), for which predetermined values are reserved for predetermined protocols, where at least one specific value is reserved for said third protocol (LCP), and other predetermined values are not reserved by said second protocol (PPP), and an information field (2) containing data associated with the protocol indicated by the value contained in said protocol field (1), and
• the process of configuring a link comprises at least one phase in which packets are exchanged such that only packets indicating said third protocol (LCP) in their protocol fields are processed and all other packets are discarded,
• said device furthermore having:
• a sending means for sending out a packet of a first type over said link that conforms to said second protocol (PPP) and indicates said third protocol (LCP) in its protocol field, and
• a sending means for subsequently sending out at least one packet of a second type that has a value in its protocol field that is allowed by said second protocol (PPP) but not reserved by said second protocol (PPP), such that said second packet is not rejected by communications devices operating in accordance with said second protocol (PPP), but is discarded without processing by these,
• a storing and waiting means for storing a packet of said first type after its receipt, and for waiting a predetermined time for the subsequent receipt of a packet of said second type,
• a processing means for processing said stored packet of said first type if no packet of the second type is received and for subsequently controlling the device to operate in accordance with said second protocol (PPP), and
• a processing means for processing said packet of the second type if such a packet is received.

A method for controlling a communication device that is

• connected to another communication device by a communication link, for configuring said communication link for packet exchange, where one of said two communication devices is on the other side connected to a packet exchange network conforming to a network protocol, wherein said method comprises the possibility of controlling said device such that the communication between said communication devices over said link is conducted by exchanging packets in accordance with a point-to-point protocol that encapsulates at least said network protocol and comprises a link configuration protocol for establishing and configuring said link, and wherein said point-to-point protocol requires that
• a packet sent over said link comprises a protocol field, for which predetermined values are reserved for predetermined protocols, where at least one specific value is reserved for said link configuration protocol, and other predetermined values are not reserved by said point-to-point protocol, and an information field (2) containing data associated with the protocol indicated by the value contained in said protocol field (1), and
• the process of configuring a link comprises at least one phase in which packets are exchanged such that only packets indicating said link configuration protocol in their protocol fields are processed and all other packets are discarded,
• said method furthermore comprising the steps:
• sending out a packet of a first type over said link that conforms to said point-to-point protocol and indicates said link configuration protocol in its protocol field, and
• subsequently sending out at least one packet of a second type that has a value in its protocol field that is allowed by said point-to-point protocol but not reserved by said point-to-point protocol, such that said second packet is not rejected by communications devices operating in accordance with said point-to-point protocol, but is discarded without processing by these,
• waiting for the receipt of a packet of said first type and storing said packet once it is received, waiting a predetermined time for the subsequent receipt of a packet of said second type,
• processing said stored packet of said first type if no packet of the second type is received and subsequently operating in accordance with said point-to-point protocol, and
• processing said packet of the second type if such a packet is received.

A method for controlling a communication device that is connected to another communication device by a communication link, for configuring said communication link for packet exchange, where one of said two communication devices is on the other side connected to a packet exchange network conforming to a first protocol (IP), wherein said method comprises the possibility of controlling said device such that the communication between said communication devices over said link is conducted by exchanging packets in accordance with a second predetermined protocol (PPP) that encapsulates at least said first protocol (IP) and comprises a third protocol (LCP) for establishing and configuring said link, and wherein said second protocol (PPP) requires that

• a packet sent over said link comprises a protocol field (1), for which predetermined values are reserved for predetermined protocols, where at least one specific value is reserved for said third protocol (LCP), and other predetermined values are not reserved by said second protocol (PPP), and an information field (2) containing data associated with the protocol indicated by the value contained in said protocol field (1), and
• the process of configuring a link comprises at least one phase in which packets are exchanged such that only packets indicating said third protocol (LCP) in their protocol fields are processed and all other packets are discarded,
• said method furthermore comprising the steps:
• sending out a packet of a first type over said link that conforms to said second protocol (PPP) and indicates said third protocol (LCP) in its protocol field, and
• subsequently sending out a plurality of packets of a second type each having a value in its protocol field that is allowed by said second protocol (PPP) but not reserved by said second protocol (PPP), such that said plurality is not rejected by communications devices operating in accordance with said second protocol (PPP), but is discarded without processing by these,
• waiting for the receipt of a packet of said first type and storing said packet once it is received, waiting a predetermined time for the subsequent receipt of a packet of said second type,
• processing said stored packet of said first type if no packet of the second type is received and subsequently operating in accordance with said second protocol (PPP), and
• processing said packet of the second type if such a packet is received, and wherein
• if said communication device acts as a sender (TE) of network layer protocol packets, at least one network layer protocol packet is sent in said plurality of packets of the second type, said at least one network layer protocol packet lacking the appropriate network protocol source address, and
• if said communication device acts as the receiver (AU) of network layer protocol packets for passing them on to a network destination, said communication device inserts the network protocol source address into those network layer protocol packets lacking the appropriate network protocol address.