The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
May. 06, 1999
Norbert Blam, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A computer network and network client where the network client includes a nonvolatile storage device for storing a packet replication indicator and a third party host identifier. The client further includes means for modifying the state of the packet replication indicator and the third party host identifier. The client has means for initiating a boot code sequence stored on a client boot code storage device. If the client detects a specified state of the packet replication indicator, the boot code sequence establishes a communication socket with a third party host identified by the third party host identifier and forwards copies or replicates of packets that are exchanged between the network client and a network server. In one embodiment the packets are replicated to the third party host until the boot sequence terminates. The third party host identifier is preferably comprised of an IP address portion and a third party host port identifier portion. In one embodiment, the means for modifying the packet replication indicator is invoked through a user interface that is produced in response to a specified input sequence during execution of the boot sequence. The boot code sequence may be initiated through the use of a reset button on the client or through a network wakeup event initiated by the network server. Packets are preferably replicated at the device link layer to minimize the effect of various hardware and media specific network implementations. The network client, for example may reside within a token ring or Ethernet subnet.