Lan connection apparatus and method thereof
First Claim
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1. An inter-device connection apparatus connecting a send/receive partner apparatus via a transmission medium, comprising:
- a connection unit connected to said transmission medium;
a port unit for controlling a signal sent or received between said send/receive partner apparatus via said connection unit, wherein in case said connection unit is connected with said send/receive partner apparatus via said transmission medium, said port unit works as a downlink port so that said inter-device connection apparatus operates as an upstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as a downstream apparatus to said inter-device connection apparatus, and said port unit works as an uplink port so that said inter-device connection apparatus operates as a downstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as an upstream apparatus to said self inter-device connection apparatus.
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Accused Products
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 2, the input control signal processor 11 of the signal processor 1 receives a receiving state signal indicating the state of a tone signal which is outputted from the PMD control unit 2 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 4.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An inter-device connection apparatus connecting a send/receive partner apparatus via a transmission medium, comprising:
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a connection unit connected to said transmission medium;
a port unit for controlling a signal sent or received between said send/receive partner apparatus via said connection unit, wherein in case said connection unit is connected with said send/receive partner apparatus via said transmission medium, said port unit works as a downlink port so that said inter-device connection apparatus operates as an upstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as a downstream apparatus to said inter-device connection apparatus, and said port unit works as an uplink port so that said inter-device connection apparatus operates as a downstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as an upstream apparatus to said self inter-device connection apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A port unit control method for executing in an inter-device connection apparatus having at least one port unit connected to another port unit in a send/receive partner apparatus via at least a transmission medium, said method comprising:
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a step of judging whether said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as a downstream apparatus to said inter-device connection apparatus, or said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as an upstream apparatus to said inter-device connection apparatus, when said at least one port unit is connected to said another port unit via said at least a transmission medium;
a step performed by said inter-device connection apparatus, of operating as an upstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as a downstream apparatus to said inter-device connection apparatus; and
a step performed by said inter-device connection apparatus, of operating as a downstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is set to work as an upstream apparatus to $aid inter-device connection apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a step of setting said at least one port unit as a downlink port sending or receiving a signal between said send/receive partner apparatus via said at least a transmission medium.
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13. A port unit control method according to claim 12, further comprising:
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a step of receiving after the setting of said at least one port unit as a downlink port, a control signal indicating a transfer request sent from said send/receive partner apparatus;
a step of deciding a preferential transfer request in accordance with a predetermined control process, when a conflict occurs between a transfer request generated in said inter-device connection apparatus and said control signal indicating a transfer request received from said send/receive partner apparatus; and
a step of sending a control signal to said send/receive partner apparatus via said transmission medium in accordance with the judging step.
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14. A port unit control method according to claim 12, wherein said downlink port has a plurality of states circulatively transferring and holding a predetermined relation between said downlink port and said send/receive partner apparatus, and comprises:
a step performed by said downlink port of sending a control signal indicating a transfer request, when said send/receive partner apparatus is not in the state of sending said control signal indicating a transfer request.
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15. A port unit control method according to claim 10, wherein said step performed by said inter-device connection apparatus, of operating as a downstream apparatus, comprises:
a step of setting said at least one port unit as an uplink port sending or receiving a signal between said send/receive partner apparatus via said transmission medium.
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16. A port unit control method according to claim 15, further comprising;
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a step of receiving after the setting of said one port unit as said uplink port, a control signal indicating a transfer request to said send/receive partner apparatus;
a step of receiving a control signal indicating a transfer permission, from said send/receive partner apparatus.
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17. A port unit control method according to claim 10, further comprising:
a step performed by said at least one port unit, of setting itself as either one of a downlink port sending or receiving a signal to said down stream apparatus via said transmission medium, or an uplink port sending or receiving a signal to said upstream apparatus via said transmission medium, in accordance with either one of said step of operating as an upstream apparatus or said step of operating as a downstream apparatus, after said either one of said step of operating as an upstream apparatus or said step of operating as a downstream apparatus.
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18. A port unit control method according to claim 10, wherein said inter-device connection apparatus works as an uplink port after said step of judging, said uplink port sending or receiving signal between said send/receive partner apparatus via said transmission medium, so that said inter-device connection apparatus operates as a downstream apparatus to said send/receive partner apparatus, when said send/receive partner apparatus is a line concentrator.
Specification