 may request to create a plurality of virtual COM ports and connect to Internet or LAN. The local device 200 also comprises a virtual serial port driver 220, and an application program 210 installed therein. The application program 210 will utilize the virtual com port set up by virtual serial port drive for responding the data transmission from/to the remote terminal. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of virtual COM serial ports are created and managed by a virtual COM utility program. Each of the virtual COM ports has an corresponding driver 220 for setting up the virtual COM port. In addition, for purposes of setting up a VCOM port, virtual COM utility program will control the communication between GPRS wireless communication protocol stack and the VCOM port in order to facilitate communications over the wireless communication network.
[0024]The application program 210 is utilized to assign a specific client device. The virtual serial port driver 220 may be an interface between virtual COM utility program 230 and Windows OS 211 in FIG. 3. In other words, virtual COM utility program 230, for example, a connection manager application helps control the setting up of a virtual COM serial port by an application program 210 for purposes of transferring data over a GPRS communication path. By definition, the application is compatible with the protocol associated with GPRS wireless communication network.
[0025]For example, some applications that communicate serially over a serial communication port will not work if their attempt to setting up a virtual COM serial port succeeds before a GPRS wireless connection is established particularly when the application program 210 in a local electronic device 200 attempts to open a communication port. As soon as the setting up of a port succeeds with a successful return back to the application, the application program 210 begins to send modem commands through the virtual COM port. The protocol associated with GPRS wireless communication network may take a little time to establish a connection with a remote device. As such, a DUN (Dial-Up Network) application program will terminate any future modem commands because it senses a failure in the communication path to the remote device. However, the present embodiment suspends the setting up of a virtual COM port until a communication path is established over GPRS communication network between the computer and a remote electronic device within a GPRS network. This allows application compatibility in opening a virtual COM port in a GPRS wireless communication network.
[0026]Virtual COM serial port is not associated particularly with a specific hardware device. This is because in a wireless communication network, multiple devices with multiple functionalities or profiles continue to enter and leave the local area network (LAN), or in a GPRS environment, associated with the remote electronic devices 270, 272, 274. Moreover, each initialized serial port is flexibly configured to support a particular profile. This allows a user of the computer (i.e. local device) 200 to select between multiple devices that are currently within its local wireless network, or in a GPRS environment.
[0027]Moreover, GPRS virtual COM port gateway server 240 is coupled to computer 200 and GPRS signal transmission station 250 respectively via Internet. GPRS virtual COM port gateway server 240 is available for providing a communication between local device 200 and GPRS signal transmission station 250. GPRS data terminal (GDT) 260, 262 have a GPRS module for connecting GPRS signal transmission station 250 to transfer data. GPRS data terminal 260, 262 are coupled to the remote electronic devices 270, 272 and 274, respectively via RS 232. GPRS data terminals 260, 262 include a processing unit to simulate virtual COM utility 230 action, memory to store data. The remote electronic device may be selected by a user from a list of available devices. In another embodiment, a user may also pre-configure the virtual COM port for a specific functional profile and pre-configure a remote electronic device for the virtual COM port.
[0028]One aspect of the present invention, the remote electronic device 270, 272 and 274 could produce data. Therefore, the present invention may perform a data collection and data transmission from remote devices via GPRS wireless network.
[0029]FIG. 3 is a data flow of performing process of the GPRS communications network system, wherein includes computer implemented method for opening a virtual COM serial port in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The fundamental principle of the present embodiment is that a virtual COM utility program 230 will not successfully complete a port-open-attempt until a GPRS wireless connection is established in a GPRS wireless communication network. This ensures that the application will be able to communicate with a remote electronic device over a GPRS wireless communication network.
[0030]The present embodiment, the first step of opening a virtual COM serial port begins by sending an attempt-to-open request from an virtual COM utility program 230 to a virtual COM serial port driver 220 (as an interface based-on Windows OS 211). Windows OS 211 with an Internet module is available for connecting the Internet. The virtual COM port driver 220 does not immediately complete the attempt-to-open request. The present embodiment provides a virtual COM utility 230 to notify the GPRS protocol stack of the attempt-to-open request from GPRS virtual COM port gateway server 240 to GPRS network 250 via the Internet. This effectively suspending attempt-to-open operation as the application is waiting for a return status on the request such as, successful, or unsuccessful, or error. Next, the present embodiment establishes a communication path or connection between the local electronic device 200 and the remote electronic device 270 over GPRS wireless communication network. The remote device 270 can be selected by prompting the user to select.
[0031]Referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates a method of establishing a communication path over a GPRS wireless communication network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Firstly, receiving a request from an application program to open a virtual COM port in a first electronic device is performed in the step 400. Next, in the step 410, it selects one of the currently available remote electronic devices within GPRS wireless communication network that are capable of communicating with the first electronic device. Subsequently, creating GPRS communication path between the remote electronic device and local electronic device is performed in the step 420. Finally, opening virtual COM port for data transfer between the application and remote electronic device over GPRS wireless communication network is performed in the step 430.
[0032. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
User Contributions:comments("1");?> comment_form("1");?>
Patent applications in class Contiguous regions interconnected by a local area network
Patent applications in all subclasses Contiguous regions interconnected by a local area network
User Contributions:
Comment about this patent or add new information about this topic:I also find the idea of a mara warmup quite amusing. That said, I once saw the elite Africans doing a sprint warm up before the start of London Marathon.
Only do it in that colour though, and whether that's worth £15 extra than sportsshoes are peddling them for, we all know the answer!
I've had another little niggle that's had me off running for a week but I am just back to laugh at Bus! Shame you didn't accidentally shave your torso before sharing the soft porn picture I gave myself a haircut last week and was very pleased with my efforts, there's not too much that can go wrong with it to be honest but doing the back with a mirror and trying to get my brain to go in the opposite direction was I imagine like trying to park a trailer for the first time. Not that I've tried that.
Nice work on the TTs Bus and Pete, I assume these Parkruns are onthe actual courses but that it's not a prerequisite?
Most people would just say they smelt diesel/petrol but I enjoyed the way Phil has slowly revealed the nature of the offending fluid through a succession of words I didn't understand.
Nice LR TR and I don't think there's a marathon for anyone this cycle Wool!
I compensated for the lack of running last week with some extra cycling. 216 miles included the local 10 mile TT but I was late to the start so just rode the course for fun and a bit slower than the week before. Managed 5km running this morning and leg seemed ok, having felt some pain where the ITB inserts last week. Seems more tendon like pain than muscle so thought a proper week off was in order.
The flagging is childish.
I also can't believe how complicated they are making it. Having said that I'm not mara training anyhow as I've always assumed it will be cancelled.
Scraped 50 miles last week, but got this one off to a good start with a plodding 16 miler in the rain today.
That looks lovely Els. I'm definitely not as stiff and sore as I was yesterday thanks.
I know it seems like a long way away but you'll be running soon chicksta.
That is surprising given your niggles Alehouse.
And for those who like such things...
I was looking at some interesting specs to play in vanilla and one that I came across that I found interesting was one handed enhancement shaman. It primarily uses a dagger with flame tongue weapon and uses spell damage gear. I was wondering if any has tried this spec and how well it did.
If you are wearing spell power gear what point is there in speccing enh instead of ele? at that point it would be much more efficent to get the end point talents from ele for sick chain lightning crits instead of trying to slowly grind down your opponent as an ele with gear that doesn't support the spec.
I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear enough