Communication Protocol Converter and Method of Protocol Conversion

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a communication protocol converter to allow a legacy device utilizing IPv4 to operate across the network using IPv6. In a first embodiment of the invention, two modular Ethernet connectors are placed side-by-side. A first modular connector receives IPv4 Ethernet data which is converted to a raw data signal. The data is transmitted from the first modular connector to a second modular connector by a bidirectional data line. The second connector receives the raw data, and a raw data-to-Ethernet conversion is completed providing output at IPv6. The present invention utilizes the form factor structure of the Ethernet connectors, so that the entire electronic circuitry is contained within the connectors to complete the conversion. An alternate embodiment incorporates the connectors into a single housing and the conversion is completed internally by a microprocessor and embedded software. A method of IPv4 to IPv6 conversion is additionally disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication protocol converter comprising:
 a mountable Faraday shield housing;   a first communication port and a second communication port that are at least partially disposed within the housing and accessible through the housing;   a conversion circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to convert a first internet protocol associated with the first communication port to a second internet protocol associated with the second communication port.   
     
     
         2 . The converter of  claim 1 , wherein the first internet protocol comprise IPv4. 
     
     
         3 . The converter of  claim 2 , wherein the second internet protocol comprises IPv6. 
     
     
         4 . The converter of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication port comprises a first Ethernet connector. 
     
     
         5 . The converter of  claim 4 , wherein the second communication port comprises a second Ethernet connector. 
     
     
         6 . The converter of  claim 4 , wherein the second communication port comprises a memory interconnect. 
     
     
         7 . The converter of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion circuitry comprises a memory storing instructions that configure the circuitry to convert the first internet protocol to the second internet protocol according to a protocol conversion method. 
     
     
         8 . The converter of  claim 7 , wherein the protocol conversion method employs conversion based on raw data. 
     
     
         9 . The converter of  claim 7 , wherein the protocol conversion method employs conversion based on an IPv4/IPv6 stack. 
     
     
         10 . The converter of  claim 7 , wherein the protocol conversion method employs conversion based on tunneling the first protocol over the second protocol. 
     
     
         11 . The converter of  claim 7 , wherein the protocol conversion method employs conversion based on network address translation-protocol translation. 
     
     
         12 . The converter of  claim 7 , wherein the protocol conversion method employs conversion based on application layer gateway translation. 
     
     
         13 . The converter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one RJ-45 jack at least partially disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The converter of  claim 1 , further comprising mount points. 
     
     
         15 . The converter of  claim 14 , wherein mount points comprise ground tabs coupled with the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The converter of  claim 14 , wherein the mount points are configured to couple with a board. 
     
     
         17 . The converter of  claim 1 , further comprising a power input through the housing and configured to draw power from an external source. 
     
     
         18 . The converter of  claim 17 , wherein the power input is configured to draw power over Ethernet. 
     
     
         19 . The converter of  claim 17 , wherein the power input is configured to draw power from at least one of the following: an external wall jack, a USB source, and a parasitic power source.