Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a computer network having a plurality of nodes which can communicate with each other over the network. Of the total number of nodes, a set of them are programmed to communicate via a first or a second protocol, whilst at least one node is programmed such that it can only communicate via the first protocol and not the second protocol. Each node in the set comprises a receiving means, responsive to input from the plurality of nodes in the network, for registering the `states` of the software levels on those nodes; these states are stored in a storage device within the node. Further each node in the set has an indication means for producing an output signal indicating its own state, this output signal being transparent to the at least one node that can only communicate via the first protocol. When a node from the set is used as a transmitting node for communicating with a receiving node selected from any of the plurality of nodes, the indication means of this transmitting node produces the output signal during such communication. The communication protocol for such communication is chosen to be the second protocol if the state of the receiving node as stored in the storage device of the transmitting node indicates that the receiving node is a member of the set.

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First Claim