NETWORK MEDIA SELECTING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREOF

• US 20090257752A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
• Original Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
• Inventors: Liu, Po-Wei, Yeh, Ming-Yuh, Chiu, Shih-Hsuan, Lin, Yao-Feng, Wang, Wei-Po
• Application Number:
  US12/423,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/746 Reaction triggered by a failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network

Abstract

A method for operating a network device is provided. The method comprises steps of providing a first transceiver to establish a first link via a first medium; providing a second transceiver to establish a second link via a second medium; and enabling one of the first and the second transceivers to establish a corresponding one of the first and second links according to a predetermined order, wherein a media access controller transmits a first datum via the first medium by using the first link, and transmits a second datum via the second medium by using the second link.

Claims

1. A method for operating a network device, comprising steps of:

providing a first transceiver to establish a first link via a first medium;

providing a second transceiver to establish a second link via a second medium; and

enabling one of the first and the second transceivers to establish a corresponding one of the first and second links according to a predetermined order,

wherein a media access controller transmits a first datum via the first medium by using the first link, and transmits a second datum via the second medium by using the second link.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising steps of:

establishing the first link in an adjustable period;

generating a first connection signal while the first transceiver receives a first signal via the first medium after the first transceiver is enabled;

disabling the second transceiver when the first link is established; and

enabling the second transceiver in a predetermined period after the first link is established to receive a second signal via the second medium for determining if the predetermined order needs to be adjusted.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising steps of:

losing the first link when the first transceiver no longer receives a signal after the first link is established; and

enabling the second transceiver according to the predetermined order when losing the first link.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined order is set up by one selected from a group consisting a random, a predetermined and a recurring sorting modes.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second medium is one selected from a group consisting of an optical fiber, a copper cable, a coaxial cable and a twisted pair cable.

6. A network device, comprising:

a physical layer, comprising;

a first transceiver;

a second transceiver;

a first communication unit coupled to the first transceiver, and trying to establish a first link via the first transceiver and a first medium;

a second communication unit coupled to the second transceiver, and trying to establish a second link via the second transceiver and a second medium; and

a media selecting unit coupled to a media access controller, and the first and the second communication units, and enabling one of the first and the second transceivers according to a predetermined order to establish a corresponding one of the first and second links,

wherein the media access controller transmits a first datum via the first medium by using the first link, and transmits a second datum via the second medium by using the second link.

7. A network device as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the first communication unit comprises a first signal detector receiving a first signal via the first medium to generate a first connection signal;

and

the second communication unit comprises a second signal detector receiving a second signal via the second medium to generate a second connection signal.

8. A network device as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the first link is established in an adjustable period;

when the first link is established, at least one of the second signal detector and the second transceiver is disabled; and

when the second link is established, at least one of the first signal detector and the first transceiver is disabled.

9. A network device as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the first link is established, the second transceiver is enabled in a predetermined period to receive a signal via the second medium for determining if the predetermined order needs to be adjusted.

10. A network device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising at least a third transceiver, wherein after the first link is established, when the first transceiver no longer receives a signal via the first medium, the first link is lost;

and when the first link is lost, the media selecting unit enables one of the transceivers other than the first transceiver and tries to establish a corresponding link according to the predetermined order.

11. A network device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined order is set up by one selected from a group consisting of a random mode, a predetermined mode and a recurring sorting mode.

12. A network device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the first and the second medium is one selected from a group consisting of an optical fiber, a copper cable, a coaxial cable and a twisted pair cable.

13. A physical layer circuit, comprising:

a circuit interface coupled to a media access controller circuit;

a first transceiver;

a second transceiver;

a first communication unit coupled to the first transceiver, and trying to establish a first link via the first transceiver and a first medium;

a second communication unit coupled to the second transceiver, and trying to establish a second link via the second transceiver and a second medium; and

a media selecting unit coupled to the media access controller circuit, and the first and the second communication units, enabling one of the first and the second transceivers according to a predetermined order for to establish a corresponding one of the first and second links,

wherein the media access controller circuit transmits a first datum via the first medium by using the first link, and transmits a second datum via the second medium by using the second link.

14. A physical layer circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the first communication unit further comprises a first signal detector receiving a first signal via the first medium to generate a first connection signal;

and

the second communication unit further comprises a second signal detector receiving a second signal via the second medium to generate a second connection signal.

15. A physical layer circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the first link is established in an adjustable period;

when the first link is established, at least one of the second signal detector and the second transceiver is disabled; and

when the second link is established, at least one of the first signal detector and the first transceiver is disabled.

16. A physical layer circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein when the first link is established, the second transceiver is enabled in a predetermined period to receive a signal via the second medium for determining if the predetermined order needs to be adjusted.

17. A physical layer circuit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising at least a third transceiver, wherein after the first link is established, when the first transceiver no longer receives a signal from the first medium, the first link is lost;

and when the first link is lost, the media selecting unit enables one of the transceivers other than the first transceiver and tries to establish a corresponding link according to the predetermined order.

18. A physical layer circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined order is set up by one selected from a group consisting of a random mode, a predetermined mode and a recurring sorting mode.

19. A physical layer circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the first and the second medium is one selected from a group consisting of an optical fiber, a copper cable, a coaxial cable and a twisted pair cable.