3com Corporation

Isdn Systems Corporation

Thomas DeBruyne Stearns

Michael Joseph Giovannoni

Joseph David Kralowetz

James F Landry

Methods and apparatus for providing virtual local connection of one PC to another PC, a PC to a LAN and from one LAN to another LAN, over a synchronous digital wide area network (effectively enabling a LAN to be extended through a synchronous digital wide area network on a virtual basis), using a PC adapter card that includes an on board Data Service Unit (DSU)/Channel Service Unit (CSU), driven by control means that functions at least in part as a LAN interface emulator. The invention includes methods (and corresponding apparatus) for configuring the PC adapter card under program control; for establishing connectivity between at least one PC and at least one LAN, each separately connected to the network, via a gateway access thru the digital wide area network; and for utilizing the PC motherboard microprocessor to run user applications software while simultaneously being able to handle the real time constraints of running packet protocols (e.g., Frame Relay, X.25, SMDS, etc.), using a novel control means.

Methods and apparatus for interconnecting personal computers (PCs) and local area networks (LANs) using packet protocols transmitted over a digital data service (DDS)

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Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America

Thomas DeBruyne Stearns