Diagnostic method and apparatus for detecting and locating computer network discontinuities
First Claim
1. A computer network system, the computer network system comprising:
- a server;
a first transmitter;
a first receiver;
a second transmitter;
a second receiver, the first transmitter, first receiver, second transmitter, and second receiver being operatively connected to the server; and
a plurality of workstations, the plurality of workstations being serially connected by a transmit path, the first transmitter being operatively connected to the transmit path, the second transmitter being operatively connected to the transmit path, the plurality of workstations being serially connected by a receive path, the first receiver being operatively connected to the receive path, the second receiver being operatively connected to the receive path.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer network, method, and control unit provide two transmitters and two receivers connected to a server and workstations. The workstations are serially connected by transmit and receive paths. The transmitters are connected to opposing ends of the transmit path and the receivers are connected to opposing ends of the receive path. The first transmitter and receiver are enabled and the second transmitter and receiver are disabled during a first phase of a breakage diagnostic mode. The first transmitter transmits a first test sequence and the first receiver receives first acknowledgement sequences. The first transmitter and receiver are disabled and the second transmitter and receiver are enabled during a second phase. The second transmitter transmits a second test sequence and the second receiver receives a quantity of second acknowledgement sequences, which is compared to the quantity of first acknowledgement sequences to determine whether there is a discontinuity in the network.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer network system, the computer network system comprising:
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a server;
a first transmitter;
a first receiver;
a second transmitter;
a second receiver, the first transmitter, first receiver, second transmitter, and second receiver being operatively connected to the server; and
a plurality of workstations, the plurality of workstations being serially connected by a transmit path, the first transmitter being operatively connected to the transmit path, the second transmitter being operatively connected to the transmit path, the plurality of workstations being serially connected by a receive path, the first receiver being operatively connected to the receive path, the second receiver being operatively connected to the receive path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of detecting discontinuities in a computer network system, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a first transmitter, a first receiver, a second transmitter, and a second receiver operatively to a server;
connecting a plurality of workstations serially by a transmit path;
connecting the first transmitter and the second transmitter operatively to the transmit path;
connecting the plurality of workstations serially by a receive path;
connecting the first receiver and the second receiver operatively to the receive path;
enabling the first transmitter and the first receiver during a first phase of a breakage diagnostic mode;
disabling the second transmitter and the second receiver during the first phase of the breakage diagnostic mode;
transmitting a first test sequence by the first transmitter;
transmitting a first acknowledgement sequence in response to at least one of the plurality of workstations receiving the first test sequence;
receiving a quantity of first acknowledgement sequences by the first receiver;
disabling the first transmitter and the first receiver during a second phase of the breakage diagnostic mode;
enabling the second transmitter and the second receiver during the second phase of the breakage diagnostic mode;
transmitting a second test sequence by the second transmitter;
transmitting second acknowledgement sequence in response to at least one of the plurality of workstations receiving the second test sequence;
receiving a quantity of second acknowledgement sequences by the second receiver;
comparing the quantity of first acknowledgement sequences with the quantity of second acknowledgement sequences; and
detecting a discontinuity in the computer network in response to an outcome of the comparison of the quantity of first acknowledgement sequences with the quantity of second acknowledgement sequences. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer network control unit, the computer network control unit comprising:
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a first transmitter;
a first receiver;
a second transmitter;
a second receiver, the first transmitter, first receiver, second transmitter, and second receiver adapted for being operatively connected to a server and a plurality of workstations serially connected by a transmit path and a receive path, the first transmitter being operatively connected to the transmit path, the second transmitter being operatively connected to the transmit path, the first receiver being operatively connected to the receive path, the second receiver being operatively connected to the receive path. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification