Lan adapter for changing control signal to a value indicating silence when the control signal is changed into a value indicating occurrence of transfer request

• US 5,724,507 A
• Filed: 03/02/1995
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Wada, Hiroyuki, Iwatsuki, Kazuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEKY, MOUSTAFA M
• Application Number:
  US08/397,369
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.02, 395/200.03, 395/200.06, 395/200.1, 395/200.11, 395/200.17, 395/200.2, 370/60, 370/85.13, 370/85.14, 370/94.1, 370/94.3, 370/452, 370/455, 370/462, 370/451, 370/456, 370/447, 370/468, 370/257, 370/347
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

An end node for which sending and receiving are controlled by a hub is directly connected and used. When another end node is directly connected to the PMD control unit, the input control signal processor of the signal processor receives a receiving state signal indicating the state of a tone signal which is output from the PMD control unit and received from another end node, converts it to a receiving state signal indicating the state of a tone signal from the hub which has the same meaning as it, and transfers it to the MAC/PMI control unit.

Claims

1. A LAN adapter, comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller the, wherein;

said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via a LAN and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating Silence when the value of the the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence; and

the signal processor relays the control signal which is output by said frame send-receive controller to said port controller, relays the control signal which is received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller, outputs the control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request to said frame send-receive controller when a control signal which is input from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed from a value indicating a receivable state into a value indicating an Idle state, and controls the relay of the control signal for said port controller and said frame send-receive controller so that said frame send-receive controller enters the state that it inputs a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of said transfer request when said send-receive partner node outputs the control signal of the value indicating the occurrence of the transfer request.

2. A LAN adapter according to claim 1, wherein said signal processor has a plurality of states including a predetermined state which circulatingly transfers a state of said signal processor by holding a predetermined relationship between the state of said signal processor and said send-receive partner node, relays a control signal indicating transfer of the state of said signal processor to said port controller, and relays a control signal having a value indicating a transfer request which is input from said frame send-receive controller when the state of said signal processor is a state for permitting transfer.

3. A LAN adapter according to claim 2, wherein said signal processor relays a control signal having a value indicating a receivable state which is received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller when it permits said frame said-receive controller to transfer.

4. A LAN adapter according to claim 1, wherein said signal processor maintains the value of a control signal which is to be relayed to said frame send-receive controller as the value before it changes into the value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request from said send-receive partner node for a predetermined period when a control signal which is input from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a control signal indicating a transfer request from said frame send-receive controller is input and restarts the relay of the control signal from said send-receive partner node after maintaining the value for the predetermined period.

5. A LAN adapter according to claim 1, wherein said post controller performs processing for a physical medium dependent sublayer which is specified by the DTE reference model of IEEE802.12 and said frame send-receive controller performs processing for a medium access control sublayer and a physical medium independent sublayer which are specified by the DTE reference model of IEEE802.12.

6. A LAN adapter which is used for at least two end nodes which are connected to a hub device, said hub device being located on an upstream side of said LAN adapter via a LAN and said LAN adapter performs sending and receiving between said end nodes, said LAN adapter comprising:

two port controllers which are connected to said hub device which is provided for sending a downstream control signal and a frame for said end nodes and for receiving an upstream control signal and a frame from said end nodes and said port controllers also being connected to a send-receive partner end node which is provided for sending an upstream control signal and a frame for said hub device and for receiving a downstream control signal and a frame from said hub device, said two port controllers being respectively connected to said hub device and said send-receive partner node

a signal processor which is connected on the downstream side of said port controllers; and

a frame send-receive controller which is connected on the downstream side of said signal processor,

wherein said port controllers perform the following functions of;

transferring the downstream control signal and frame which are received by said corresponding ports from said hub device to said signal processor and sending the upstream control signal and frame which are transferred from said signal processor to said hub device from said corresponding ports when said respective corresponding ports are connected to the downstream port of said hub device, and

transferring the upstream control signal and frame from said send-receive partner end node which are received from said corresponding ports to said signal processor and sending the upstream control signal and frame which are transferred from said signal processor to said send-receive partner end node from said corresponding ports when said corresponding ports are connected to the port of the LAN adapter of the send-receive partner end node;

wherein further, said frame send-receive controller performs the following functions of;

changing the upstream control signal to be transferred to said signal processor into an upstream control signal of a value indicating a receivable state,

receiving the frame which is transferred from said port controller when the controller recognizes that the value of the downstream control signal which is transferred from said signal processor is changed to a value indicating an occurrence of transfer request,

changing the upstream control signal to be transferred to said signal processor to the upstream control signal of the value indicating an occurrence of transfer request when the controller sends a frame, and

transferring the frame to be sent to said signal processor when the value of the downstream control signal which is transferred from said signal processor is changed to a value indicating a receivable state; and

when the LAN adapter of said send-receive partner end node is connected to both of said two port controllers and when said hub device is connected to one of said port controllers and the LAN adapter of said send-receive partner end node is connected to said another port controller, said send-receive controller performs the further functions of;

transferring a frame which is transferred from one of said send-receive partner end node and said port controller of the self end node to said another port controller and to said frame-send-receive controller and transferring a frame which is transferred from said frame send-receive controller to both of said port controllers,

transferring the downstream control signal or the upstream control signal which is transferred from the port controller of said send-receive partner end node and an upstream control signal of a value which is decided according to the value of the upstream control signal which is transferred from said frame send-receive controller to each of said port controllers; and

transferring two upstream control signals or a downstream control signal and an upstream control signal which are input from said send-receive partner end node via said two port controllers and a downstream control signal of a value which is decided according to the value of the upstream control signal which is transferred from said frame send-receive controller to said frame send-receive controller.

7. A LAN adapter which is used for at least two end nodes which are connected to a hub device which is located on the upstream side of said LAN adapter via a LAN and executes sending and receiving between said end nodes, wherein

two port controllers include corresponding ports respectively, a signal processor is connected to the downstream side of said two port controllers, a frame send-receive controller is connected to the downstream side of said signal processing means, and said LAN adapter connects to said end nodes via said LAN, said LAN adapter comprising:

said port controllers which transfer the control signal and frame which are received from said corresponding ports to said signal processor and send the control signal and frame which are transferred from said signal processor to said corresponding port controllers;

said frame send-receive controller, which receives the control signal and frame which are transferred from said signal processor, generates a control signal and frame according to said received control signal, and outputs them to said signal processor; and

said signal processor which, when the port of another LAN adapter which is used as an end node which will be a send-receive partner node is connected to each of the ports of said two port controllers and when said hub device is connected to one of said two port controllers and the upstream port of said another LAN adapter is connected to the other port, performs the following functions of;

inputting a frame which is transferred from one of said port controllers to the signal send-receive unit and frame send-receive controller of the other LAN adapter,

transferring a frame which is output from said frame send-receive controller to both of the signal send-receive units,

transferring a control signal of a value which is decided according to the values of the control signal which is transferred from the other port controller and the control signal which is output from said frame send-receive controller to each of said port controllers; and

transferring a control signal of a value which is decided according to the values of the two control signals which are transferred from both of said port controllers and of the control signal which is output from said frame send-receive controller to said frame send-receive controller.

8. A LAN adapter according to claim 7, wherein said signal processor freezes the value of said control signal to be transferred to said frame send-receive controller to the value before it changes into the value indicating a transfer request occurrence for a predetermined period when the value of a control signal which is transferred from one of said port controllers is changed into a value indicating said transfer request occurrence when a control signal indicating a transfer request occurrence from said frame send-receive controller is input.

9. An information processor which is connected via a LAN having a LAN adapter, said LAN adapter comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller;

wherein

said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via said LAN and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating Silence when the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence; and

the signal processor which relays the control signal which is output by said frame send-receive controller to said port controller, relays the control signal which is received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller, outputs a control signal of a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request to said frame send-receive controller when a control signal which is input from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed from a value indicating a receivable state into a value indicating an Idle state, and controls the relay of the control signal for said port controller and said frame send-receive controller so that said frame send-receive controller enters the state that it inputs a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of said transfer request when said send-receive partner node outputs the control signal of the value indicating the occurrence of the transfer request.

10. An information processor according to claim 9, wherein said information processor is a hub device which is located on an upstream side of said LAN adapter via said LAN and connected to at least two end nodes which are located on a downstream side of said LAN adapter.

11. An information processor according to claim 9, wherein said information processor is an end node which is connected to said LAN and said end node has said data processor for transferring the frame to be transferred to said frame send-receive controller and receiving transfer of the frame which is received by an upstream port from said frame send-receive controller.

12. An information processor according to claim 9, wherein the port of the port controller of a LAN adapter of another information processor which is connected to said LAN is connected to the port of the port controller of said LAN adapter.

13. A LAN adapter, comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller, wherein;

said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via a LAN and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating Silence when the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence; and

said signal processor has a plurality of states including a predetermined state which circulatingly transfer a state of said signal processor by holding a predetermined relationship between the state of said signal processor and said send-receive partner node, relays a control signal indicating transfer of the state of said signal processor to said port controller, and relays a control signal having a value indicating a transfer request which is input from said frame send-receive controller when the state of said signal processor is a state for permitting transfer to said frame send-receive controller.

14. A LAN adapter, comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller, wherein;

said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via a LAN and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal of a value indicating Silence when the value of said control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence, and

said signal processor relays said control signal received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller, and maintains the value of a control signal which is to be relayed to said frame send-receive controller as the value before it changes into the value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request from said send-receive partner node for a predetermined period when a control signal which is input from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a control signal indicating a transfer request from said frame send-receive controller is input and restarts the relay of the control signal from said send-receive partner node after maintaining the value for the predetermined period.

15. A LAN adapter, comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller, wherein;

said port controller includes an upstream port for outputting a control signal for controlling upstream transmission, and a downstream port for outputting a control signal for controlling downstream transmission, said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via a LAN and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating Silence when the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor to a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence; and

said signal processor relays the control signal which is output by said frame send-receive controller to said port controller, relays the control signal which is received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller, and, when said send-receive partner node and the self port are electrically connected through said LAN, judges, based upon a content of said control signal received from said send-receive partner node, the kind of port of said send-receive partner node with which of upstream/downstream/self, the function of the port is same, and relays to said port controller and to said frame send-receive controller so that the respective port is recognized by said port controller and said frame send-receive controller as (a) a downstream port when said port kind of said partner node is an upstream port, (b) as an upstream port when said port kind is a downstream port, and (c) as an equivalent connection port when the port kind is of the same function as the respective port.

16. A LAN adapter, comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller, wherein;

said port controller includes an upstream port for outputting a control signal for controlling upstream transmission, and a downstream port for outputting a control signal for controlling downstream transmission, said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via a LAN and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating Silence when the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor to a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence; and

said signal processor relays the control signal which is output by said frame send-receive controller to said port controller, relays the control signal which is received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller, and, when the respective port is connected as a downstream port of said send-receive partner node and when a transfer request of said self node is in conflict with said partner node, judges under a preliminarily set control procedures which transfer request has higher priority thereof, and relays the control signal to said port controller and to said frame send-receive controller, for executing from the transfer request of higher priority.

17. A LAN adapter, comprising:

a port controller;

a signal processor; and

a frame send-receive controller, wherein;

said port controller sends a control signal and a frame to a send-receive partner node (end node) which is connected thereto via a LAN, which includes an upstream port for outputting a control signal for controlling upstream transmission, and a downstream port for outputting a control signal for controlling downstream transmission, and receives a control signal and a frame from said send-receive partner node;

said frame send-receive controller changes the control signal which is output to said signal processor into a control signal having a value indicating Silence when the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request, receives the frame which is received by said port controller, changes the control signal to be output to said signal processor to a control signal having a value indicating an occurrence of a transfer request when a frame is to be sent to said port controller, and sends the frame to be transferred from said port controller to said send-receive partner node after the value of the control signal which is relayed from said send-receive partner node via said port controller is changed into a value indicating Silence; and

said signal processor relays the control signal which is output by said frame send-receive controller to said port controller, relays the control signal which is received by said port controller to said frame send-receive controller, and, when said send-receive partner node and the self port are electrically connected through said LAN, judges, based upon the content of said control signal received from said send-receive partner node, the kind of port of said send-receive partner node with which of upstream/downstream/self, the function of the port is the same, and relays to said port controller and to said frame send-receive controller so that the respective port is recognized by said send-receive partner node as (a) a downstream port when said port kind of said partner node is an upstream port, (b) as an upstream port when said port kind is a downstream port, and (c) as an equivalent connection port when the port kind is of the same function as the respective port.