Method and system for monitoring status in a network having wireless and wired connections

• US 20040179505A1
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Vyssotski, Nikolai V., Critz, Christian L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3041 where the computing system component is an input/output interface interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/325 by lamps or LED's
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

In an information handling system that includes a connector for receiving a removable wireless device, an indicator is shared between the wireless device and a fixed network controller. The indicator is for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the wireless device, and for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the network controller.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor for coupling to a memory;

a connector for receiving a removable wireless device;

a fixed network controller;

an indicator, shared between the wireless device and the network controller, for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the wireless device, and for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the network controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one communication speed of the network controller is different from the communication speeds of the wireless device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one communication speed of the wireless device is different from the communication speeds of the network controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication speeds of the wireless device include at least three communication speeds.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication speeds of the network controller include at least three communication speeds.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a first indicator, and comprising:

a second indicator, shared between the wireless device and network controller, for indicating network activity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is for indicating a working wireless network connection and for indicating a working wired network connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes at least first and second indicators for indicating the communication speeds.

9. The system of claim 1, and comprising:

status processing logic for overriding the wireless device sharing of the indicator when the network controller is connected to a wired network, so that access to the indicator is provided to the network controller instead of the wireless device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is integrated in a wired connector.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the network controller is fixably attached to a motherboard.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector is fixably attached to a motherboard, and wherein the wireless device is removably attachable to the connector.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector is a mini-PCI connector.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a mini-PCI wireless card.

15. A method of operating an information handling system that includes a processor for coupling to a memory, a connector for receiving a removable wireless device, and a fixed network controller, the method comprising:

between the wireless device and the network controller, sharing an indicator for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the wireless device, and for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the network controller.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one communication speed of the network controller is different from the communication speeds of the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one communication speed of the wireless device is different from the communication speeds of the network controller.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication speeds of the wireless device include at least three communication speeds.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication speeds of the network controller include at least three communication speeds.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the indicator is a first indicator, and comprising:

between the wireless device and network controller, sharing a second indicator for indicating network activity.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein sharing the indicator comprises:

sharing the indicator for indicating a working wireless network connection and for indicating a working wired network connection.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein sharing the indicator comprises:

sharing at least first and second indicators for indicating the communication speeds.

23. The method of claim 15, and comprising:

overriding the wireless device sharing of the indicator when the network controller is connected to a wired network, so that access to the indicator is provided to the network controller instead of the wireless device.