Protocol Interface Device for Multi-Protocol Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communications systems are limited by the need for specific operating protocols, restricting access to data storage devices and requiring clients to support multiple protocols, which is challenging on resource-constrained devices like mobile wireless communications devices.
Innovation Solution
A communications system with a protocol interface device that includes a front-end proxy module and a protocol engine module, using a common interface protocol to facilitate access across multiple operating protocols, enabling clients to access data storage devices regardless of their protocol capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If clients are required to support multiple operating protocols to access different data storage devices, then protocol compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol interface device as an intermediary component between clients and data storage devices. This device includes a protocol engine that translates between different operating protocols and a common interface protocol, allowing clients to access various data storage devices without needing to support multiple protocols directly. The protocol interface device handles the protocol translation and conversion, thereby resolving the contradiction by maintaining protocol compatibility while reducing client complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single operating protocol is used for data access, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different data storage systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal protocol interface device that can interface with multiple different operating protocols through a single common interface protocol. The protocol engine is designed to translate between the common interface protocol and various operating protocols (such as IMAP, POP3, HTTP, etc.), enabling a single client using the common interface protocol to access different types of data storage devices. This multi-functionality approach maintains low device complexity while achieving broad protocol compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol translation functionality is added to existing systems, then protocol compatibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protocol translation functionality into a separate protocol interface device that operates independently from both clients and data storage devices. The protocol interface device is divided into key components: a protocol engine for translation, a common interface protocol layer, and protocol-specific interface modules. This segmentation allows the translation functionality to be added to existing systems as a modular component rather than integrating it deeply into the system architecture, thereby improving protocol compatibility while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications system may include a plurality of data storage devices each using at least one of a plurality of operating protocols. The system may also include a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices for accessing the data storage devices, and each may use at least one of the plurality of operating protocols. Furthermore, the system may also include a protocol interface device including a front-end proxy module for communicating with the plurality of mobile wireless communications devices using respective operating protocols, and a protocol engine module for communicating with the plurality of data storage devices using respective operating protocols. More particularly, the front-end proxy module and the protocol engine module may communicate using a common interface protocol able to represent a desired number of protocol-supported elements for a desired operating protocol.