Automatic protocol selection mechanism

• US 6,917,594 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Feuerstraeter, Mark T., Hayden, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): QURESHI, AFSAR M
• Application Number:
  US09/829,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 370/242, 370/244, 370/389, 370/296, 370/401, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/468, 370/462, 370/455, 370/252, 370/474, 370/447, 709/230, 709/232, 709/233, 709/249, 714/704, 714/706
• US Class Current: 370/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4013 Management of data rate on the bus systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40136 Nodes adapting their rate to the physical link properties LAN switches H04L49/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A network device automatically detects the best protocol a network will support. The network device includes a driver for transmitting data, a receiver for receiving data, and a port operationally coupled to the driver and receiver. The network device further includes negotiation logic coupled to the driver and receiver for selecting a protocol in coordination with other network devices. The network device further includes error detection logic and backs down to a lower transmission rate if errors are detected after the initial negotiation of the selected protocol.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting the bit rate between network devices, comprising the steps of:

negotiating a first protocol between first and second network devices;

exchanging data packets in the first protocol between the first and second network devices;

detecting an error count at the first network devices based upon the first protocol from the exchanged data packets; and

negotiating a second protocol when the error count exceeds a threshold by the first network device initiating a second protocol negotiation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the first protocol with a first bit rate and the second protocol with a second bit rate, and the first bit rate is greater than the second bit rate.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing the first bit rate with 100 MHz and the second bit rate with 10 MHz.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of negotiating the first protocol comprises auto-negotiation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the first protocol with packets having a check field, and wherein the step of detecting comprises counting the number of packets having an erroneous check field.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forcing a network restart after the error count exceeds a threshold level.

7. A device, comprising:

a port;

negotiation logic coupled to the port, the negotiation logic selecting a first protocol;

error detection logic coupled to the port to detect an error count; and

a protocol controller coupled to the negotiation logic and to the error detection logic, the protocol controller being responsive to the error count to cause a second protocol negotiation.

8. A method, comprising:

providing a port for receiving data;

selecting a first protocol by negotiation logic to transmit the data, the negotiation logic being coupled to the port;

detecting an error count by error detection logic based upon the data received by the port and upon the first protocol; and

causing a second protocol by a protocol controller in responsive to the error count, the protocol controller being coupled to the negotiation logic and to the error detection logic.