Patent ID: 6084859
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a computing network system environment having a gateway device, said gateway device being electrically connected from one end to at least one initiating host and at the other end to at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to said gateway device, said computing environment using a Multi-path channel communication protocol, an apparatus for allowing any initiating host to establish communications with any receiving host comprising:a special function table for storing all possibly available functions that can be provided by all available different communication platforms;a memory location accessible by said gateway device for storing said special function table;determining means for obtaining a list of all supported functions provided by a particularly associated communication platform;comparison component for identifying subset of supported functions present in and entering them in said special function table representing all possible functions;monitoring component for checking status of all supported functions at preselected intervals to see if additions and deletions are made to said list of supported functions;means for making alterations and modifications to said special function table as to reflect supported function additions and deletions to said supported functions list;said special function table also being accessible to all hosts through said gateway device so as to allow all said hosts to obtain an updated list of all supported functions at any one time.