Flexible network interfaces and flexible data clocking
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a port for receiving and/or transmitting network data;
a first circuit for providing a first signal identifying one of a plurality of data formats, wherein the first signal is to be defined by a signal provided to the apparatus from outside of the apparatus, and the first signal is changeable without re-manufacturing the apparatus; and
a hardwired (non-software-executing) circuit for processing data according to any one of said formats, wherein the circuit is responsive to the first signal to process data according to the format specified by the first signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network data processing system has a port that can be configured for any one of plural data formats, for example, for ATM or Frame Relay. The port configuration can be accomplished without re-manufacturing the network data processing system. The configuration can be accomplished by signals on external pins of integrated circuits forming the network processing system, and/or by software. In some embodiments, the port can be configured for any one of plural interfaces used for connection to physical layer devices, for example, UTOPIA or the serial interface. Receive and transmit clock signals can be configured to allow the receive or transmit data to be clocked on either rising or falling edges of the clock signals. Other parameters can also be configured.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a port for receiving and/or transmitting network data;
a first circuit for providing a first signal identifying one of a plurality of data formats, wherein the first signal is to be defined by a signal provided to the apparatus from outside of the apparatus, and the first signal is changeable without re-manufacturing the apparatus; and
a hardwired (non-software-executing) circuit for processing data according to any one of said formats, wherein the circuit is responsive to the first signal to process data according to the format specified by the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method comprising:
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generating a first signal identifying one of a plurality of formats for network data received and/or transmitted on a port of an apparatus;
receiving and/or transmitting network data on the port, and processing the data by a hardwired circuit as having the format identified by the first signal;
wherein the first signal is defined by a signal provided to the apparatus from outside of the apparatus, and the first signal is changeable without re-manufacturing the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a port for receiving data from a network via a physical layer device and/or transmitting data to a network via a physical layer device;
a first circuit for providing a first signal identifying one of types of interfaces between the port and physical layer devices, wherein the first signal is to be defined by a signal provided to the apparatus from outside of the apparatus, and the first signal is changeable without re-manufacturing the apparatus; and
a hardwired (non-software-executing) circuit, responsive to the first signal, for receiving and/or transmitting data on said port according to the type of interface specified by the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method comprising:
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generating a first signal identifying one of types of interfaces for transferring data between a port of a network data processing system and a physical layer device, wherein the first signal is to be defined by a signal provided to the network data processing system from outside of the network data processing system, and the first signal is changeable without re-manufacturing the network data processing system;
a port for receiving data from a network via a physical layer device and/or transmitting data to a network via a physical layer device;
receiving and/or transmitting data on said port by a hardwired (non-software-executing) circuit according to the type of interface specified by the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more terminals for carrying data, wherein the data are provided on the one or more terminals on a rising edge or a falling edge of a first clock signal; and
a first circuit for providing a first signal indicating whether the data are to be provided on the falling or rising edge of the first clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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generating a first signal indicating whether data are to be provided on one or more terminals on a falling or rising edge of a first clock signal; and
providing data on the one or more terminals in accordance with the first signal and the clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification