The generic protocol translator enables a robust communication link between
devices where communication and the exchange of information is currently
either very difficult or impossible. The generic protocol translator frees
device developers from concerning themselves with the details of existing
and future protocols, data formats or application semantics that they must
support for inter-device compatibility. A receiver circuit manager
receives source information using a socket-type interface. The source
information then passes through a receiver, a message queue, a message
router, and a message converter, which converts the information to the
destination format using a multi-stage pipelined poly-dimensional finite
state automata based conversion process. The converted message is then
sent to the destination device via the message router after being
reformatted into the destination protocol identified during the conversion
process. The use of finite state automata to the problem of multiple
communications protocols, device types and applications enables rapid
support of new devices, applications and communications protocols, while
providing significant advantages in terms of simplicity and ease of use.
