Method and apparatus for displaying port information
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A repeater for exchanging data among a plurality of data devices, comprising:
- a plurality of ports positioned along a first line and operable to couple to the data devices, each port operable to exchange data with an associated data device in a selected one of a first associated data device in a selected one of a first domain and a second domain;
a plurality of port indicators positioned along a second line parallel to the first line, each port indicator associated with one of the ports, each port indicator operable to display information on its associated port; and
a mode indicator having a first mode and a second mode, the first mode signifying that the port indicators display information on ports operating in the first domain, the second mode indicating that the port indicators display information on ports operating in the second domain.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network (10) includes a repeater (12) that can service data devices that operate using different communications protocols. The data devices (18, 20, 22) couple to the ports (34) of the repeater (12), and operate using a first communications protocol in a first domain (14). The data devices (26, 28, 30) also couple to the ports (34) of the repeater (12) and operate using a second communications protocol in a second domain (16). Information on the operation of a port (34) may be displayed using one port indicator (202) or two port indicators (300, 302).
75 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A repeater for exchanging data among a plurality of data devices, comprising:
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a plurality of ports positioned along a first line and operable to couple to the data devices, each port operable to exchange data with an associated data device in a selected one of a first associated data device in a selected one of a first domain and a second domain; a plurality of port indicators positioned along a second line parallel to the first line, each port indicator associated with one of the ports, each port indicator operable to display information on its associated port; and a mode indicator having a first mode and a second mode, the first mode signifying that the port indicators display information on ports operating in the first domain, the second mode indicating that the port indicators display information on ports operating in the second domain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for displaying information on a plurality of ports of a repeater, the ports being positioned along a first line, each port operable to exchange data with an associated data device in a selected one of a first domain and a second domain, the method comprising:
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disposing a plurality of port indicators on the repeater, the port indicators positioned in a second line parallel to the first line, each port indicator associated with one of the ports; selecting one of a first mode and a second mode, the first mode signifying that the port indicators display information on ports operating in the first domain, the second mode signifying that the port indicators display information on ports operating in the second domain; and displaying information in response to the selected mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A repeater for exchanging data among a plurality of data devices, comprising:
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a plurality of ports positioned along a first line and operable to couple to the data devices, each port operable to exchange data with an associated data device in a selected one of a first domain and a second domain; a plurality of first port indicators positioned along a second line parallel to the first line, each first port indicator associated with one of the ports, each first port indicator operable to display information when its associated port operates in the first domain; and a plurality of second port indicators positioned along a third line parallel to the first line, each second port indicator associated with one of the ports, each second port indicator operable to display information when its associated port operates in the second domain. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for exchanging data among a plurality of data devices, comprising:
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a first domain having data devices operating at a first communications protocol; a second domain having data devices operating at a second communications protocol; a plurality of ports positioned along a first line and operable to couple to the data devices, each port operable to exchange data with an associated data device in a selected one of the first domain and the second domain; and a plurality of port indicators positioned along a second line parallel to the first line, each port indicator associated with one of the ports, each port indicator operable to display information on its associated port. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A repeater for exchanging data among a plurality of data devices, comprising:
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a plurality of ports positioned along a first line and operable to couple to the data devices, each port operable to exchange data with an associated data device in a selected one of a first domain and a second domain; a plurality of first port indicators positioned along a second line parallel to the first line, each first port indicator associated with one of the ports, each first port indicator operable to display information when its associated port operates in the first domain; and a plurality of second port indicators, each second port indicator associated with one of the ports, each second port indicator operable to display information when its associated port operates in the second domain. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification