Patent ID: 7165127

Claim:
A method of effecting a substitute for a data communication target protocol in communications between a host interface device and a client interface device, the method comprising: a) selecting a first protocol that is supported by the client, such that a first predetermined data and control signal sequence conveyed to the client from the host predictably elicits a response from the client that accords with the supported protocol, wherein the predetermined data and control signal sequence is initiated by the host to invoke the supported protocol; b) selecting a different second protocol that is unsupported by the client in that the host does not have access to a unique data and control sequence that will predictably elicit a response, required by such unsupported protocol, when conveyed from the host to the client; c) determining a need for invocation of the second protocol to effect a particular function in the host that is not explicitly effected by the supported protocol; d) conveying the first predetermined data and control signal sequence from the host to the client; e) receiving a response to the host from the client that accords with the supported protocol; and f) interpreting the response, within the host, to approximately effect the particular function in the host.