Network adapter using status inlines and data lines for bi-directionally transferring data between lan and standard p.c. parallel port
First Claim
1. A system for functionally connecting a personal computer to a local area network via the computer'"'"'s standard PC parallel port comprised of an external 25 pin D-shell connector, eight data lines, no more than five control out-lines, and no more than five status in-lines, each such data line, control out-line, and status in-line being electrically connected to a different one of said D-shell connector pins, said system comprising:
- a network adapter having first connector means connected to said D-shell connector and second connector means connected to said network;
network interface means in said adapter connected to said second connector means for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packet from said network;
input/output circuit means in said adapter connected between said first connector means and said network interface means, said input/output means including control logic means responsive to signals on said D-shell connector pins connected to said control out-lines for selectively (1) transferring data bytes from said network interface means to said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines and said status in-lines and (2) transferring data bytes from said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines to said network interface means;
software driver means executable by said computer for determining whether said parallel port is configured for bidirectional or unidirectional data transfer; and
means for configuring said control logic means to transfer data bytes to said pins connected to said data lines when said parallel port is configured for bidirectional data transfer and to said status lines when said parallel port is configured for unidirectional data transfer.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network adapter configured to functionally connect a local area network cable to a personal computer bus via the computer'"'"'s standard parallel port. The adapter includes a substantially fully enclosed housing having first and second external connectors respectively configured to mate with a computer'"'"'s parallel port connector and with a network cable. The adapter is primarily comprised of (1) network interface circuitry for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from a local area network and (2) input/output circuitry for bidirectionally transferring data bytes between the network interface circuitry and a computer'"'"'s parallel port.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for functionally connecting a personal computer to a local area network via the computer'"'"'s standard PC parallel port comprised of an external 25 pin D-shell connector, eight data lines, no more than five control out-lines, and no more than five status in-lines, each such data line, control out-line, and status in-line being electrically connected to a different one of said D-shell connector pins, said system comprising:
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a network adapter having first connector means connected to said D-shell connector and second connector means connected to said network; network interface means in said adapter connected to said second connector means for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packet from said network; input/output circuit means in said adapter connected between said first connector means and said network interface means, said input/output means including control logic means responsive to signals on said D-shell connector pins connected to said control out-lines for selectively (1) transferring data bytes from said network interface means to said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines and said status in-lines and (2) transferring data bytes from said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines to said network interface means; software driver means executable by said computer for determining whether said parallel port is configured for bidirectional or unidirectional data transfer; and means for configuring said control logic means to transfer data bytes to said pins connected to said data lines when said parallel port is configured for bidirectional data transfer and to said status lines when said parallel port is configured for unidirectional data transfer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A network adapter configured to functionally connect a local area network cable to an internal bus of a personal computer (PC) via a standard PC parallel port comprised of an external 25 pin D-shell connector, eight data lines, no more than five control out-lines, and no more than five status in-lines, each such data line, control out-line, and status in-line being electrically connected to a different one of said D-shell connector pins, said adapter comprising:
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a housing; first connector means mounted externally on said housing configured for connecting to said D-shell connector; second connector means mounted externally on said housing configured for connecting to said network cable; network interface means mounted in said housing connected to said second connector means for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from said network cable; and input/output means mounted in said housing connected between said first connector means and said network interface means, said input/output means including control logic means responsive to signals on said D-shell connector pins connected to said control out-lines for selectively (1) transferring data bytes from said network interface means to said D-shell connector pins connected to said status in-lines and (2) transferring data bytes from said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines to said network interface means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of communicating data between a personal computer having an internal bus and a standard PC parallel port, comprised of an external 25 pin D-shell connector, eight data lines, no more than five control out-lines, and no more than five status in-lines, each such data line, control out-line, and status in-line being electrically connected to a different one of said D-shell connector pins, and a network including a network medium, said method comprising:
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connecting a transceiver to said network medium; controlling said transceiver to transmit data packets from a data packet memory to said network medium and to receive data packets from said network medium for storage in said memory; connecting input/output circuitry to said D-shell connector; and controlling said input/output circuitry in response to signals on said D-shell connector pins connected to said control out-lines for selectively (1) transferring data bytes from said transceiver to said internal bus via said D-shell connector pins connected to said status in-lines and (2) transferring data bytes from said internal bus via said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines to said transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. The combination with network interface circuitry adapted to be connected to a local area network medium, wherein said network interface circuitry includes a memory for storing data received from and to be transmitted to said network medium, input/output circuitry for connecting a personal computer (PC) having an internal bus and a standard PC parallel port to said network interface circuitry, said parallel port being comprised of an external 25 pin D-shell connector, eight data lines, no more than five control out-lines, and no more than five status in-lines, each such data line, control out-line, and status in-line being electrically connected to a different one of said D-shell connector pins, said input/output circuitry including:
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a multipin connector fixed to said input/output circuitry; means for detachably connecting said multipin connector to said D-shell connector; and control logic means for bidirectionally transferring data between said internal bus and said memory via said multipin connector and said parallel port D-shell connector, said control logic means being responsive to signals on said D-shell connector pins connected to said control out-lines for selectively (1) transferring data bytes from said network interface means to said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines and said status in-lines and (2) transferring data bytes from said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines to said network interface means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for transmitting data to and receiving data from a local area network and for bidirectionally transferring such data to a computer'"'"'s internal bus via the computer'"'"'s standard parallel port comprised of an external 25 pin D-shell connector, eight data lines, no more than five control out-lines, and no more than five status in-lines, each such data line, control out-line, and status in-line being electrically connected to a different one of said D-shell connector pins, said apparatus including:
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a housing; network interface circuitry mounted in said housing including a data packet memory and transceiver means for transmitting data from said memory to said network and for receiving data from said network for storage in said memory; a multipin connector externally mounted on said housing configured for detachable connection to said parallel port connector; and input/output circuitry mounted in said housing including control logic means for bidirectionally transferring data bytes between said memory and said internal bus via said external multipin connector and said parallel port connector, said control logic means being responsive to signals on said D-shell connector pins connected to said control out-lines for selectively (1) transferring data bytes from said network interface means to said internal bus via said D-shell connector pins connected to said status in-lines and (2) transferring data bytes from said internal bus via said D-shell connector pins connected to said data lines to said network interface circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification