Patent ID: 7602792

Claim:
An apparatus for reconfiguring a plurality of networks, each having a different network protocol into an intercommunicated network and a physical layer communicated to the plurality of networks comprising: a protocol stack; and a reconfigurable protocol chip coupled the protocol stack wherein the reconfigurable protocol chip is comprised of: a dynamically reconfigurable protocol realization module communicated to the physical layer; an autonomously functioning protocol sensing module communicated to the physical layer having and controlled by autonomous protocol sensing/detection algorithms; a reconfiguration control engine communicated to the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module and to the dynamically reconfigurable protocol realization module; a protocol selection module communicated to the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module and to the reconfiguration control engine; and a memory for storing a plurality of different network protocols coupled to the protocol selection module, wherein the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module is comprised of a course acquisition loop for generation of multiple confidence states of valid protocol detection, and a fine tracking loop for allowance of some degradation of information.