(19)

(11)

EP 1 219 075 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 25.04.2002 (43) Date of publication: 03.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/27 (21) Application number: 00947264.8 (22) Date of filing: 12.07.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H04L 12/44, H04L 29/06 (86) International application number: PCT/US0018/988 (87) International publication number: WO 0106/726 (25.01.2001 Gazette 2001/04)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 15.07.1999 US 354294 (71) Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. Palo Alto,California 94303 (US)	(72) Inventors: JOHNSON, John San Jose, CA 95129 (US) OKIN, Ken Saratoga, CA 95070 (US) RADUCHEL, William Palo Alto, CA 94304 (US) (74) Representative: Harris, Ian Richard  D. Young & Co.,21 New Fetter Lane London EC4A 1DA London EC4A 1DA (GB)