Virtual Serial Port Multiplexing via Data Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limitation of a single physical serial port on client devices restricts the number of external devices that can interact with an application, necessitating a solution for data transmission with multiple external devices through a single physical serial port.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and system that provides multiple virtual logical serial ports mapped to a physical serial port, with a data forwarding device that connects to the client device and extends communication to multiple external devices through additional serial ports, enabling data transmission and reception using a preset serial port protocol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single physical serial port is used for data transmission, then the communication circuit remains simple and cost is reduced, but the number of external devices that can interact with the application is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A data forwarding device is introduced as an intermediary between the client device and multiple external devices. The forwarding device receives data from the client device through the single physical serial port, decapsulates the data frames, and distributes them to the appropriate extended serial ports connected to different external devices. This mediator approach enables one-to-many communication while keeping the client device's communication circuit simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication interface is segmented into multiple virtual logical serial ports that are mapped to a single physical serial port. Each logical serial port corresponds to a specific external device, allowing the application to interact with multiple devices through separate logical interfaces while sharing the same physical transmission medium.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical serial ports are provided to connect multiple external devices, then the number of external devices that can interact with the application increases, but the cost and complexity of the communication circuit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single physical serial port is made multi-functional by implementing virtualization that allows it to serve multiple external devices simultaneously. The data forwarding device extends this universality by enabling the same physical port to communicate with different devices through different logical serial ports, eliminating the need for multiple physical ports and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Virtual copies of the physical serial port are created in the form of logical serial ports. These virtual copies allow the application to interact with multiple external devices as if each had its own dedicated physical port, while in reality, all communications share the single physical serial port resource, thereby reducing hardware costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical serial ports are used to connect multiple external devices, then communication capability is enhanced, but the client application requires modifications to utilize multiple ports
Solution Approach 1:
The data forwarding device acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of multi-port communication transparently. The application interacts with virtual logical serial ports through standard interfaces without needing to know about the underlying physical port limitations or the forwarding device's presence, thus maintaining ease of operation while enhancing communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Virtual copies of serial port interfaces are presented to the application, allowing it to use standard single-port interaction patterns with multiple devices. The application code remains unchanged as it interacts with familiar logical serial port interfaces, while the virtualization layer and forwarding device handle the actual multi-device communication logistics.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method, a client device, and a data forwarding device for transmitting data through a serial port. The method comprises providing at least two virtual logical serial ports mapped to a physical serial port, providing a main serial port connected to the physical serial port and extended serial ports which correspond to the logical serial ports one by one; encapsulating first data and a specified logical serial port according to a preset serial port protocol to obtain a first data frame; transmitting the first data frame to the data forwarding device through the physical serial port; receiving the first data frame through the main serial port, and decapsulating the first data frame according to the serial port protocol to obtain the first data and the specified logical serial port; and transmitting the first data to the extended serial port corresponding to the specified logical serial port.