Network interface device

• US 20020069300A1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pascolini, Enrico
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network interface device (150) for connecting a computer (100) to a network (155) includes a port (210) with a plurality of leads for a network communication link (215) and a plurality of functional blocks (225a-225d) each one for operating the device (150) according to a different type of network, each type of network being identified by a corresponding set of active leads; the device (150) further includes logic means (235-245,250-260) for detecting if a signal is present on each lead and for determining the type of network corresponding to the present signals, and configuration means (235-245,230a,230n) for activating the functional block (225a-225d) corresponding to the determined type of network.

Claims

1. A network interface device for connecting a computer to a network including a port with a plurality of leads for a network communication link and a plurality of functional blocks each one for operating the device according to a different type of network, each type of network being identified by a corresponding set of active leads, logic means for detecting if a signal is present on each lead and for determining the type of network corresponding to the present signals, and configuration means for activating the functional block corresponding to the determined type of network.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each type of network is further identified by a corresponding polarity of the active leads and wherein the logic means further detects the polarity of each present signal and determines the type of network corresponding to the present signals and the detected polarity of the present signals.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the port is of a RJ45 type with eight leads and wherein the plurality of functional blocks consists of a first functional block for a PSTN network, a second functional block for an ISDN network, a third functional block for an Ethernet network and a fourth functional block for a Token-ring network.

4. The device according to claim 1, further including a system interface for a bus of the computer, the configuration means including a first plurality of switches for selectively connecting the system interface to the activated functional block and a second plurality of switches for selectively connecting the activated functional block to the corresponding active leads.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the configuration means includes a microprocessor and a memory for storing a program controlling the microprocessor.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the logic means includes, for each lead, a low-pass filter for obtaining a direct-voltage component of a voltage on the lead, a first comparator for asserting a positive indicator signal when the direct-voltage component is higher than a positive threshold value, a second comparator for asserting a negative indicator signal when the direct-voltage component is lower than a negative threshold value, and means for asserting a null indicator signal when both the positive indicator signal and the negative indicator signal are deasserted, the microprocessor determining the type of network according to the positive indicator signal, the negative indicator signal, and the null indicator signal corresponding to each lead.

7. A network interface device for connecting a computer to a network including a port with a plurality of leads for a network communication link and a plurality of functional blocks each one for operating the device according to a different type of network, each type of network being identified by a corresponding set of active leads, a logic circuit for detecting if a signal is present on each lead and for determining the type of network corresponding to the present signals, and a control unit for activating the functional block corresponding to the determined type of network.

8. A computer including a bus and a network interface device for connecting the computer to a network, the device being connected to the bus and including a port with a plurality of leads for a network communication link and a plurality of functional blocks each one for operating the device according to a different type of network, each type of network being identified by a corresponding set of active leads, logic means for detecting if a signal is present on each lead and for determining the type of network corresponding to the present signals, and configuration means for activating the functional block corresponding to the determined type of network.

9. A method for connecting a computer to a network, the computer having a network interface device including a port with a plurality of leads for a network communication link and a plurality of functional blocks each one for operating the device according to a different type of network, each type of network being identified by a corresponding set of active leads, the method including the steps of:

detecting if a signal is present on each lead,

determining the type of network corresponding to the present signals, and

activating the functional block corresponding to the determined type of network.