Protocol link layer

Abstract

A link is a software abstraction that represents a direct connection between two CoCo nodes. The link layer detects the presence of neighboring devices and establishes links to them. A protocol abstraction layer converts data frames that arrive on network interfaces into packet objects used by the CoCo Protocol Suite.

1 . A system for establishing links in a heterogeneous communications network that is scalable and dynamic, comprising:
 (a) a communications network having a collection of communication devices that are able to send and receive data from each other;   (b) a heterogeneous communications network having a collection of multiple types of network devices and multiple types of communication links wherein the heterogeneous communications network is a hybrid network comprising devices of different type and manufacturers; and   (c) a protocol abstraction layer that communicates frames with a network interface layer and communicates data with a circuit and routing layer, the protocol abstraction layer having a link setup layer component, quality of service handler component, and a link data layer component.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the protocol abstraction layer receives data frames from a network device, constructs a CoCo header and address translation table, removes a network interface layer header, and provides a modified packet with the CoCo header to a sublayer. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the constructed CoCo header and address translation table capture information from a network interface layer.