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Standardized method and apparatus for gathering device identification and/or configuration information via a physical interface

  • US 7,143,155 B1
  • Filed: 06/29/2001
  • Issued: 11/28/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:

  • a network device including a first memory to store hardware and software version numbers for the network device in a predetermined memory location;

    the network device furthering including a physical read port coupled to the first memory, said physical port including a set of one or more signals defining a physical interface and a protocol for reading said hardware and software version numbers from the predetermined memory location independently of any network protocols; and

    data-gathering circuitry physically separate from but compatible with said read port and programmed to automatically read said hardware and software version numbers from the predetermined memory location using the protocol,said automatic reading from the predetermined memory location further programmed to occur in response to detachably coupling the data-gathering circuitry to the network device and independently of any manual inputs over any human interface devices for either the data-gathering circuitry or the network device.

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