Intelligent network connecting apparatus

• US 6,633,921 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Original Assignee: ATEN International Company Limited
• Inventors: Pan, Wen-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Avellino, Joseph E
• Application Number:
  US09/478,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 709/250, 709/220, 710/70
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks

Abstract

An intelligent network connecting apparatus for serving as a terminal of network includes a female Ethernet connector, female USB connector, converting means, and auto-detecting switch. While a computer couples with the female Ethernet connector, signals would directly communicate between the computer and a remote network. When the computer couples with the female USB connector, the auto-detecting switch would automatically couple the converting means with the network. Meanwhile, the signals passing through the female USB connector would be sent to the converting means and transformed in forms of between USB standard and Ethernet standard, thereby ensuring the signals communicating between the computer and the network.

Claims

1. An intelligent network connecting apparatus for serving as a terminal of network, the intelligent network connecting apparatus comprising:

a female Ethernet connector for receiving a male Ethernet connector to couple the intelligent network connecting apparatus with a computer;

a female universal-serial-bus connector for receiving a male universal-serial-bus connector to couple the intelligent network connecting apparatus with the computer;

a converting means coupling the female universal-serial-bus connector for converting signals in forms of between a universal-serial-bus standard and an Ethernet standard; and

an auto-detecting switch coupling with the female Ethernet connector and the converting means, while the computer connects with the female universal-serial-bus connector to send an electric power Vcc and a reference potential GND to the auto-detecting switch, the auto-detecting switch connecting the computer to the network through the converting means automatical, or while the computer connects with the female Ethernet connector, the auto-detecting switch connecting the computer to the network.

2. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the female Ethernet connector is a standard female RJ-45 connector.

3. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the female Ethernet connector and the female universal-serial-bus connector are fabricated on a same panel.

4. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the panel is mounted on a wall of architecture.

5. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the panel, the converting means, and the auto-detecting switch are implanted as a mobile switch device.

6. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an LED device on the panel for indicating which connector between the female Ethernet connector and the female universal-serial-bus connector has been used.

7. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auto-detecting switch is a relay.

8. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the relay is automatically switching the female Ethernet connector or the female universal-serial-bus connector to couple with the network by detecting electric power supplied via the female universal-serial-bus connector.

9. An intelligent network connecting apparatus for serving as a terminal of network, the intelligent network connecting apparatus comprising:

a panel;

a female Ethernet connector mounted on the panel for receiving a male Ethernet connector to couple the intelligent network connecting apparatus with a computer;

a female universal-serial-bus connector mounted on the panel for receiving a male universal-serial-bus connector to couple the intelligent network connecting apparatus with the computer;

a converting means coupling the female universal-serial-bus connector for converting signals in forms of between a universal-serial-bus standard and a Ethernet standard; and

an auto-detecting switch coupling with the female Ethernet connector and the converting means, while the computer connects with the female universal-serial-bus connector to send an electric power Vcc and a reference potential GND to the auto-detecting switch, the auto-detecting switch connecting the computer to the network through the converting means automatically, or while the computer connects with the female Ethernet connector, the auto-detecting switch connecting the computer to the network.

10. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the female Ethernet connector is a standard female RJ-45 connector.

11. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the panel is mounted on a wall of architecture.

12. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the panel, the converting means, and the auto-detecting switch are implanted as a mobile switch device.

13. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an LED device on the panel for indicating which connector between the female Ethernet connector and the female universal-serial-bus connector has been used.

14. The intelligent network connecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the auto-detecting switch is a relay.