Automatic communication protocol detection system and method for network systems
First Claim
1. A communication protocol detection system for a network system including at least one port for interfacing at least one network device operating according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols, the communication protocol detection system comprising:
- a plurality of interface circuits for coupling to a port, each of said plurality of interface circuits corresponding to one of the plurality of different communication protocols for interfacing a compatible network device coupled to the port, for detecting link pulses from said compatible network device coupled to the port and for providing a corresponding one of a plurality of link detect signals indicative thereof, andcontrol logic coupled to enable each one of said plurality of interface circuits and coupled to receive each of said plurality of link detect signals, wherein said control logic enables an appropriate one of said plurality of interface circuits based on detection of a corresponding one of said plurality of link detect signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication protocol detection system for enabling a network system to detect and interface one or more network devices each operating according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols. In one embodiment, a network interface card (NIC) is capable of operating according to one of two different communication protocols, such as the 10Base-T and 100Base-TX Ethernet Standards. The NIC includes two corresponding transceivers, where the transceivers are interfaced to a network connector for interfacing an external network device. Control logic initially enables the 10Base-T transceiver to determine if link pulses are detected. If link pulses are detected, the 100Base-T transceiver is enabled to determine if it detects the link pulses. If so, the 100Base-T transceiver is used to establish communications, and if not, the 10Base-T transceiver is used. Preferably, the 100Base-T transceiver is re-enabled a predetermined number of times to determine if the network device is a 100 Mbps device. In another embodiment, a repeater includes a plurality of interface circuits, each including a plurality of transceivers. Each of the transceivers of each of the interface circuits of each port is connected to a corresponding repeater module through an array of buses. Control logic enables the transceivers one at a time within each interface circuit and correspondingly monitors the corresponding link signal. When an enabled transceiver detects link pulses, that transceiver is used to establish communications. If a link signal indicates termination of communications, enabling of the transceivers one at a time is resumed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A communication protocol detection system for a network system including at least one port for interfacing at least one network device operating according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols, the communication protocol detection system comprising:
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a plurality of interface circuits for coupling to a port, each of said plurality of interface circuits corresponding to one of the plurality of different communication protocols for interfacing a compatible network device coupled to the port, for detecting link pulses from said compatible network device coupled to the port and for providing a corresponding one of a plurality of link detect signals indicative thereof, and control logic coupled to enable each one of said plurality of interface circuits and coupled to receive each of said plurality of link detect signals, wherein said control logic enables an appropriate one of said plurality of interface circuits based on detection of a corresponding one of said plurality of link detect signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communication protocol detection system for a network system for interfacing a plurality of network devices, wherein each of the plurality of network devices operates according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols, the communication protocol detection system comprising:
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a plurality of network connectors; a plurality of interface circuits, each corresponding to one of said plurality of network connectors and each including a plurality of transceivers coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of network connectors, wherein each of said plurality of transceivers of each of said plurality of interface circuits corresponds to one of said plurality of communication protocols, and wherein each of said plurality of transceivers is separately enabled for detecting link pulse signals indicative of connection of a compatible network device coupled to said corresponding one of said plurality of network connectors and for providing a corresponding link detect signal indicative thereof; and control logic coupled to said plurality of interface circuits for receiving and monitoring a plurality of link detect signals, each of said plurality of link detect signals corresponding to one of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said control logic enables one of said plurality of transceivers within each of said plurality of interface circuits. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of detecting the communications protocol of a network device operating according to at least one of a plurality of communication protocols coupled to a network connector of a network system, the network device sending signals through the network connector to the network system when connected thereto, the network system including first and second interface devices corresponding to first and second communication protocols, respectively, wherein the first and second interface devices are separately enabled, and wherein the first and second interface devices each provide a link detect signal indicating detection by an interface device of the network device being present and transmitting link pulse signals, comprising the steps of:
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enabling the first interface device; periodically monitoring a link detect signal from the first interface device for an indication that a network device is detected by the first interface device; if the first interface device detects a network device, disabling the first interface device and enabling the second interface device; periodically monitoring a link detect signal from the second interface device for an indication that the network device is detected by the second interface device; if the second interface device detects the network device while being enabled, establishing communications using the second interface device; and if the second interface device does not detect the network device while being enabled, disabling the second interface device, re-enabling the first interface device and establishing communications using the first interface device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of detecting the communication protocol of a network device operating according to at least one of a plurality of communication protocols coupled to a network connector of a network system, the network device sending signals through the network connector to the network system when connected thereto, the network system including an interface device including a plurality of transceivers coupled to the network connector, wherein the plurality of transceivers correspond to the plurality of communication protocols and are separately enabled, and wherein each of the transceivers provides a link detect signal indicating that an enabled transceiver has detected a network device coupled to the corresponding network connector and is transmitting link pulse signals, the method comprising the steps of:
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periodically enabling each of the plurality of transceivers one at a time; for each enabled transceiver, monitoring a corresponding link detect signal for an indication that a network device is detected by the enabled transceiver; and if the link detect signal indicates that an enabled transceiver detects a network device, establishing communications with that network device and the using the currently enabled transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification