Method and apparatus for facilitating communication in a multilayer communication architecture via a dynamic communication channel

摘要

A data processing system is provided for interfacing with a computing resource coupled to a remotely located network. A multilayer communication architecture, implemented utilizing a multilayer protocol stack, is provided for facilitating communication between network resources and applications running within the data processing system. Within the multilayer protocol stack, a media access control emulator is provided for interfacing with an application requesting access to a computer resource coupled to a remotely located network. The media access control emulator presents a standard media access control interface to the requesting application. A connection utility is provided for managing communication between the media access control emulator and a dynamic communication channel. In response to receiving an application or user instigated request to communicate with the computing resource coupled to the remotely located network, the media access control emulator automatically suspends access to the remotely located computer resource by emulating a pre-established operating condition, such as discarding a packet of data sent by the application and returning an out of resource indication to the application. During such automatic suspension of access, the connection utility establishes communication with the remotely located network via the dynamic communication channel. Once communication has been established, the requesting application is allowed access to the computer resource coupled to the remotely located network via the dynamic communication channel, wherein the media access control emulator and the connection utility mask the dynamic nature of the dynamic communication channel from the requesting application.