Patent ID: 7899945

Claim:
A method of processing commands at an interface device between a first data transport protocol and a second data transport protocol, comprising: providing an interface device comprising an interface for a first transport medium, a first controller for the first interface, a second interface for a second transport medium, a second controller, and interface logic comprising instructions executable to perform the steps of: receiving a first command according to the first data transport protocol over a network at the interface device, wherein at least a portion of the first command specifies a first data flow direction; assigning the first command an exchange identification that indicates a second data flow direction, wherein the second data flow direction is opposite the first data flow direction; forwarding the first command according to the second data transport protocol using the exchange identification indicating a second data flow direction, wherein the forwarded first command is linked to one or more additional commands; receiving a reply to the first command including an exchange identification; when the reply to the first command contains an exchange identification corresponding to the second data flow direction and a response corresponding to the second data flow direction, processing the command; and when the reply contains an exchange identification corresponding to the second data flow direction and a response corresponding to the first data flow direction, determining if the reply is associated with the first command; wherein when the reply is associated with the first command, processing the reply; when the reply is not associated with the first command, treating the reply as an error; and assigning the exchange identification assigned to the first command to at least one additional command that specifies data flow in the second direction and is linked to the first command and forwarding the at least one additional command so that data flow of the first command and the at least one additional command occurs in the first and second direction on a same exchange.