High performance, high bandwidth, and adaptive local area network communications
First Claim
1. A Local Area Network (LAN) interface adapter apparatus comprising:
- an interface circuit coupled between a first data terminal device and a LAN, comprising;
means for performing a network initialization process with a second data terminal device having a substantially similar interface adapter apparatus coupled to the LAN prior to a data transfer between the first and second data terminal devices, the means for performing a network initialization process comprising;
first means for determining information related to available data throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions, and electrical characteristics of a connection between the devices;
second means for performing a frequency spread search, a signal quality analysis, an attenuation measurement, an echo canceling study, and an optimal filtering analysis;
third means for Generating transmission parameters in response to the first and second means; and
means for encrypting data for transmission and decoding encrypted data received;
a transmit circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for transmitting data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means; and
a receive circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for receiving data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method, and system to provide an open, easy-to-use, robust, and reliable Local Area Network (LAN) system that is capable of handling high data throughput and high bandwidth communication applications and at the same time, is adaptive to changing conditions is provided. Prior to the actual data transfer, a network initialization process is carried out to determine the maximum available data transfer throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions, and electrical characteristics between two devices on the LAN. These parameters are then utilized to determine the maximum allowable data transfer rate and the optimum data transfer conditions between the two devices.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A Local Area Network (LAN) interface adapter apparatus comprising:
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an interface circuit coupled between a first data terminal device and a LAN, comprising;
means for performing a network initialization process with a second data terminal device having a substantially similar interface adapter apparatus coupled to the LAN prior to a data transfer between the first and second data terminal devices, the means for performing a network initialization process comprising;
first means for determining information related to available data throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions, and electrical characteristics of a connection between the devices;
second means for performing a frequency spread search, a signal quality analysis, an attenuation measurement, an echo canceling study, and an optimal filtering analysis;
third means for Generating transmission parameters in response to the first and second means; and
means for encrypting data for transmission and decoding encrypted data received;
a transmit circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for transmitting data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means; and
a receive circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for receiving data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A LAN system comprising:
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a hub having a plurality of ports, the hub buffering data received and managing data flows between the plurality of ports; and
a plurality of data terminal devices coupled to the plurality of the ports of the hub by a connecting medium, the plurality of devices transferring data to each other;
wherein the hub and each of the plurality of data terminal devices include a network interface apparatus comprising;
means for performing a network initialization process with a second data terminal device having a substantially similar interface adapter apparatus coupled to the LAN prior to a data transfer between the first and second data terminal devices, the means for performing a network initialization process comprising;
first means for determining information related to available data throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions and electrical characteristics of a connection between the devices;
second means for performing a frequency spread search, a signal quality analysis, an attenuation measurement, an echo canceling study, and an optimal filtering analysis;
third means for generating transmission parameters in response to the first and second means; and
means for encrypting data for transmission and decoding encrypted data received;
a transmit circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for transmitting data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means; and
a receive circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for receiving data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer system adapted for use as a data terminal device, the computer system comprising:
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a bus;
a central processor connected to the bus;
memory connected to the bus;
a LAN interface adapter apparatus comprising;
an interface circuit coupled between first data terminal device and a LAN, comprising;
means for performing a network initialization process with second data terminal device having a substantially similar interface adapter apparatus coupled to the LAN prior to a data transfer between the first and second data terminal devices, the means for performing a network initialization process comprising;
first means for determining information related to available data throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions, and electrical characteristics of a connection between the devices;
second means for performing a frequency spread search, a signal quality analysis, an attenuation measurement, an echo canceling study, and an optimal filtering analysis;
third means for generating transmission parameters in response to the first and second means; and
means for encrypting data for transmission and decoding encrypted data received;
a transmit circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for transmitting data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means; and
a receive circuit coupled to the interface circuit, comprising means for receiving data having the transmission parameters generated by the third means.
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34. A method operating a LAN that is capable of handling high data throughput and high bandwidth communication applications and is adaptive to changing conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
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performing a network initialization process between two data terminal devices having substantially similar interface adapter apparatuses coupled to a LAN prior to a data transfer between the two data terminal devices, wherein the network initialization process comprises;
determining information related to available data throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions, and electrical characteristics of a connection between the two data terminal devices; and
performing a frequency spread search, a signal quality analysis, an attenuation measurement, an echo canceling study, and an optimal filtering analysis;
encrypting data for transmission;
decoding encrypted data received; and
transferring data between the two data terminal devices utilizing the information determined from the network, initialization process.
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35. A local area network (LAN) interface adapter comprising:
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a transmit circuit coupled to transmit data to a LAN;
a receive circuit coupled to receive data from the LAN;
an interface circuit coupled between a first data terminal device and the LAN, comprising;
a data terminal equipment (DTE) interface coupled to a first data terminal device, the transmit circuit and the receive circuit;
a network interface coupled to the LAN, the transmit circuit and the receive circuit;
whereby;
in a receive mode, the network interface receives data from the LAN, transmits the data to the receive circuit to be processed, and the receive circuit transmits the processed data to the DTE interface to be transmitted to the DTE; and
in a transmit mode, the DTE interface receives data from the DTE, transmits the data to the transmit circuit to be processed, and the transmit circuit transmits the processed data to the network interface to be transmitted to the LAN; and
an interface controller coupled to the DTE interface and the network interface, comprising a processor programmed to;
determine information related to available data throughput, optimized bandwidth, optimized transfer conditions, and electrical characteristics of a connection between the first data terminal device and a second data terminal device coupled to the LAN;
perform a frequency spread search, a signal quality analysis, an attenuation measurement, an echo canceling study, and an optimal filtering analysis;
generate transmission parameters in response to the determining and performing operations; and
transmit the data transmission parameters to the DTE interface and the network interface, whereby, in response to the data transmission parameters;
the DTE interface provides compensations and adjustments to the data signal received from the DTE; and
the network interface provides compensations and adjustments to the data signal received from the LAN. - View Dependent Claims (36)
initiate a negotiation session with the second data terminal device; and
exchange information with the second data terminal device, including at least one exchanged information selected from the group comprising;
the number of twisted pair wires which connect the first and second data terminal devices;
the device designated to act as the data terminal equipment (DTE) device;
the device designated to act as the data communications equipment (DCE) device;
the electrical characteristics profile of each twisted pair wires which connect the first and second data terminal devices;
the identification of the twisted pair wires at the designated DTE;
the identification of the twisted pair wires at the designated DCE;
the protocol-related capabilities of the device designated as the DTE;
the protocol-related capabilities of the device designated as the DCE;
the expected data transmission signal-to-noise ratio;
the expected data transmission error rate;
the power and termination impedance resulting in a maximum signal-to-noise ratio;
the distance between the first and second data terminal devices; and
the buffering and flow control technology used between the first and second data terminal devices.
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37. A local area network (LAN) interface adapter comprising:
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a transmit circuit coupled to transmit data to a LAN;
a receive circuit coupled to receive data from the LAN;
an interface circuit coupled between a first data terminal device and the LAN, comprising;
a data terminal equipment, (DTE) interface coupled to a first data terminal device, the transmit circuit and the receive circuit;
a network interface coupled to the LAN;
an interface controller coupled to the DTE interface and the network interface, comprising;
a processor;
a serial engine, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to the network interface;
frame check logic, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to the serial engine;
a encryption engine, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to the frame check logic;
a compression/decompression engine, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to the frame check logic and the encryption engine; and
a buffer memory, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to the DTE interface and the compression/decompression engine. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
a modulator, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to receive signals from the DTE interface;
a carrier generator, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to the modulator;
a D/A converter coupled to receive modulated signals from the modulator;
an equalizer coupled to receive converted signals from the D/A converter;
a gain control coupled to receive equalized signals from the equalizer; and
a programmable termination circuit coupled to transmit an impedance matched signal to the network interface.
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39. The local area network interface adapter of claim 37, the receive circuit comprising:
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an adaptive equalizer coupled to receive data from the network interface;
a carrier detector, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled to receive equalized signals from the adaptive equalizer; and
a demodulator, responsive to control signals from the processor, coupled demodulate signals from the carrier detector and transmit the demodulated signals to the DTE interface.
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Specification