Selective bypassing of daisy-chained network devices
First Claim
1. A switching device for bypassing a daisy-chained network device from a wired network, the device comprising:
- a first network connector configured to connect to a first wired network port of the daisy-chained network device;
a second network connector configured to connect to a second wired network port of the daisy-chained network device;
a normally-closed switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a pole, the first terminal electrically connected to the first network connector, the second terminal electrically connected to the second network connector, and the pole, when energized, opening the normally-closed switch such that the first and second terminals are electrically isolated from one another; and
a resettable timer having an input port and an output port, the input port configured to receive reset signals, the output port electrically coupled to the pole of the normally-closed switch, the resettable timer configured to generate an output signal on the output port that energizes the pole during a predetermined time period following every reset signal received and de-energizes the pole after the predetermined time period following a last of the received reset signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods relate to selectively bypassing a daisy-chained network device based on a timing of a series of reset signals. The daisy-chained network device is bypassed if an elapsed time from a last of the reset signals of the series is longer than a predetermined time period. While no interval between adjacent reset signals of the series exceeds the predetermined time period, the daisy-chained network device is not bypassed. In some embodiments, the daisy-chained network device generates the series of reset signals. If the daisy-chained network device fails to generate a next reset signal within the predetermined time period as measured from a previous reset signal, the daisy-chained network device is bypassed. If the daisy-chained network device loses power, it will be bypassed as the reset signals will not be generated, but if the daisy-chained network device regains power, it can be reinserted into the network daisy-chain.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A switching device for bypassing a daisy-chained network device from a wired network, the device comprising:
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a first network connector configured to connect to a first wired network port of the daisy-chained network device; a second network connector configured to connect to a second wired network port of the daisy-chained network device; a normally-closed switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a pole, the first terminal electrically connected to the first network connector, the second terminal electrically connected to the second network connector, and the pole, when energized, opening the normally-closed switch such that the first and second terminals are electrically isolated from one another; and a resettable timer having an input port and an output port, the input port configured to receive reset signals, the output port electrically coupled to the pole of the normally-closed switch, the resettable timer configured to generate an output signal on the output port that energizes the pole during a predetermined time period following every reset signal received and de-energizes the pole after the predetermined time period following a last of the received reset signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for bypassing a daisy-chained network device from a wired network, the method comprising:
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electrically connecting, via a first network connector, a switching device to a first wired network port of the daisy-chained network device; electrically connecting, via a second network connector, the switching device to a second wired network port of the daisy-chained network device; electrically connecting, via first and second terminals of a normally-closed switch, the normally closed switch between the first and second network connector, respectively, wherein the normally-closed switch has a pole; opening, when a pole of the normally-closed switch is energized, the normally-closed switch such that the first and second terminals are electrically isolated from one another; electrically coupling an output port of a resettable timer to the pole of the normally-closed switch; receiving, via an input port of a resettable timer, a series of reset signals; and generating, by the resettable timer, an output signal on the output port that energizes the pole during the predetermined time period following every reset signal received and de-energizes the pole of the normally-closed switch so as to close the normally-closed switch after the predetermined time period following a last of the series of reset signals received. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A switching device for bypassing a daisy-chained network device from a wired network, the device comprising:
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a first network connector configured to connect to a first network port of the daisy-chained network device; a second network connector configured to connect to a second network port of the daisy-chained network device; a normally-closed switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a pole, the first terminal electrically connected to the first network connector, the second terminal electrically connected to the second network connector, and the pole, when energized, opening the normally-closed switch such that the first and second terminals are electrically isolated from one another; and a resettable counter configured to generate a count from an initial count value to a final count value at a predetermined rate when the count is not equal to the final count value, the count being set to the initial count value upon receiving a reset signal, the resettable counter configured to energize the pole of the normally-closed switch in response to the count value being not equal to the final count value and to de-energizes the pole if the count value is equal to the final count value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification