Point-to point protocol

Abstract

A Point-to-point protocol configured to provide communication exchange between a first device and a second device. The point-to-point protocol is configured to negotiate an exchange rate and establish a connection for the communication exchange between the first and second device. As system dynamics change, the point-to-point protocol is also configured to permit application programs in the first device and the second device to request renegotiation of the exchange rate at any time. The point-to-point protocol is also configured to provide confirmation to a sending application program that information was delivered to a receiving application program.

1 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . A method for communicating between devices, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a protocol layer of a first device, a suggested exchange rate from an application program;    sending a synchronization request message from the first device to a second device, the synchronization message including the suggested exchange rate;    receiving a synchronization acknowledgement message in the first device, the synchronization acknowledgement message including one of the suggested exchange rate and a second exchange rate as a negotiated exchange rate; and    sending communications to the second device over the connection at the negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 responsive to the negotiated exchange rate, establishing a connection between the first device and the second device.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 adjusting a first device exchange rate to the negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 testing a connection between the first device and the second device at the negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the suggested exchange rate is a highest common exchange rate between the first device and the second device.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein testing the connection comprises: 
 exchanging full duplex test messages and test acknowledgment messages between the first device and the second device at the suggested exchange rate.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 responsive to an error during testing, renegotiating the exchange rate between the first device and the second device to a lower exchange rate; and    sending further communications to the second device at the lower exchange rate.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of sending communications to the second device further comprises 
 providing an information message to the second device that includes the communications;    receiving a supervisory response message from the second device acknowledging the information message.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the supervisory response message indicates a validation of the information message.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the supervisory response message indicates an error in the information message.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the supervisory response message indicates the validation of the information message and a receiver not ready condition.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the communications are packetized communications.  
     
     
         54 . A method of facilitating communication between devices, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a protocol layer of a first device, data from an application program;    generating an information message including the data;    transmitting the information message to a second device;    receiving, at the protocol layer of the first device, a supervisory message from the second device acknowledging the information message;    generating, responsive to the supervisory message, a data acknowledgement message indicating that the data was acknowledged by the second device; and    providing the data acknowledgement message to the application program.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising: 
 sending a synchronization request message to a second protocol layer of the second device, the synchronization message including a first exchange rate;    receiving a synchronization acknowledgement message in the protocol layer of the first device, the synchronization acknowledgement message including one of the first exchange rate and a second exchange rate as a negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 receiving, at the protocol layer of a first device, the first exchange rate as a suggested exchange rate from the application program.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the information message comprises a message sequence field and a data field, wherein the data field contains the data, and wherein the sequence field comprises a sequence number identifier corresponding to the data.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 adjusting a first device exchange rate to the negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising: 
 testing a connection between the first device and the second device at the negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 responsive to an error during testing, renegotiating the exchange rate between the first device and the second device to a lower exchange rate; and    sending further communications to the second device at the lower exchange rate.    
     
     
         61 . A communications apparatus, comprising: 
 an application programming layer comprising an application program; and    a protocol layer operative to 
 receive data from the application program;  
 generate an information message including the data;  
 transmit the information message to a destination device;  
 receive, from the destination device, a supervisory message acknowledging the information message;  
 generate, responsive to the supervisory message, a data acknowledgement message indicating that the data was delivered to the destination device; and  
 provide the data acknowledgement message to the application program.  
   
     
     
         62 . The communications apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the protocol layer is further operative to 
 send a synchronization request message to a second protocol layer of a second device, the synchronization message including a first exchange rate; and    receive a synchronization acknowledgement message from the second protocol layer of the second device, the synchronization acknowledgement message including one of the first exchange rate and a second exchange rate as a negotiated exchange rate.    
     
     
         63 . The communications apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the protocol layer is further operative to receive the first exchange rate as a suggested exchange rate from the application program.  
     
     
         64 . The communications apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the protocol layer is further operative to adjust an exchange rate implemented by the communications apparatus to the negotiated exchange rate.  
     
     
         65 . The communications apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the protocol layer is further operative to test a connection between the communications apparatus and the second device at the negotiated exchange rate.  
     
     
         66 . The communications apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the protocol layer is further operative to renegotiate the exchange rate between the communications apparatus and the second device to a lower exchange rate, responsive to an error during testing; and 
 send further communications to the second device at the lower exchange rate.    
     
     
         67 . The communications apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the protocol layer comprises: 
 a protocol state machine, a receive buffer and a transmit buffer.    
     
     
         68 . The communications apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the protocol state machine is operative to receive, from a second device, an information message intended for the application program; store the information message in the receive buffer; and 
 provide the information message to the application program.    
     
     
         69 . The communications apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the protocol layer is further operative to validate the information message; and 
 transmit, to the second device, a supervisory message acknowledging the information message.    
     
     
         70 . The communications apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the protocol state machine is operative to transmit to the second device a supervisory message indicating a receiver not ready condition, responsive to a receive buffer full condition.  
     
     
         71 . The communications apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the protocol state machine is operative to store the data received from the application program in the transmit buffer.  
     
     
         72 . The communications apparatus of  claim 61 , further comprising a port for exchange of communications with the destination device.