Global and local command circuits for network devices

• US 20050044275A1
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colorado vNet, LLC
• Inventors: Hesse, Scott, Adamson, Hugh P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

Command system for a plurality of network devices. The command system may comprise a network administrator provided on a network, the network administrator issuing a command signal over the network. A plurality of device interfaces provided between the network and each of the network devices. Each of the plurality of device interfaces having: at least one input line to receive the command signal over the network; a transceiver operatively associated with the input line, the transceiver detecting the command signal on the input line; and at least one switching element provided between the transceiver and the network device, the at least one switching element establishing a link to the network device when the command signal is detected by the transceiver. The plurality of device interfaces delivering the command signal to the plurality of network devices.

Claims

1. A command system for a plurality of network devices, comprising:

a network administrator provided on a network, said network administrator issuing a command signal over the network;

a plurality of device interfaces provided between the network and each of the network devices, each of said plurality of device interfaces having;

at least one input line to receive the command signal over the network;

a transceiver operatively associated with said input line, said transceiver detecting the command signal on said input line; and

at least one switching element provided between said transceiver and the network device, said at least one switching element establishing a link to the network device when the command signal is detected by said transceiver;

said plurality of device interfaces delivering the command signal to the plurality of network devices.

2. The command system of claim 1, wherein said at least one switching element establishes a link to the network device to reset the device.

3. The command system of claim 1, wherein said at least one switching element establishes a link to the network device for triggering an action at the device.

4. The command system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of device interfaces further comprises a timer circuit, said timer circuit delaying said at least one switching element from establishing the link to the network device.

5. The command system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises at least one CAN bus.

6. The command system of claim 5, wherein said command signal is a sustained low/non-CAN signal issued over the CAN bus.

7. The command system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of network devices further comprises a manually-operable switch, said manually-operable switch signaling the network device.

8. The command system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of device interfaces comprises a failure circuit, said failure circuit reporting a failure at said device interface to said network administrator.

9. The command system of claim 1, further comprising a status indicator at said network device.

10. The command system of claim 1, further comprising a device identification circuit, said device identification circuit identifying said network device to said network administrator.

11. A method for signaling a plurality of network devices, comprising:

issuing a command signal over the network;

receiving the command signal at each of a plurality of device interfaces provided between the network and the plurality of network devices;

establishing a link via the device interfaces to each of the network devices; and

delivering the command signal to the plurality of network devices.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising shutting off power to a processor at the network device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising turning on power to a processor at the network device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing the link to each of the network devices is after a predetermined time.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising signaling at least one of the network devices in response to operation of a manually-operable switch.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising reporting a failure at at least one of said device interfaces.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising indicating the status of at least one of the network devices.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying at least one of said network devices on the network.

24. The command system of claim 11, further comprising means for identifying at least one of said network devices on the network.

19. A command system for a plurality of network devices, comprising:

means for issuing a command signal over a network;

means for receiving the command signal for each network device; and

means for triggering an action at each network device when the command signal is received.

20. The command system of claim 19, further comprising means for resetting each network device in response to establishing said link thereto.

21. The command system of claim 19, further comprising means for pausing a predetermined time before establishing said link to each network device.

22. The command system of claim 19, further comprising manually-operable switching means for signaling at least one of said network devices

23. The command system of claim 19, further comprising means for indicating the status of at least one of said network devices.