Mechanism to select the physical media type connector in network devices

• US 7,382,797 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Noone, Jyothi Prakash, Chen, Zhonghua, Yu, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi; Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US11/009,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20060126655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 370242-248, 370419-421, 370/437, 370/445, 370/463, 370/465, 370/522, 370/524, 379/399.01, 379441-443, 340/825, 340/825.06, 340/825.16, 340/825.17, 340/825.01, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 370/437
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

A network device comprises first and second transceivers configured to aid communication between a plurality of networked devices; first and second communication medium connections in communication with the first and second transceivers, and capable of receiving first and second communication media, respectively; and a sliding door, said sliding door retained between an upper sliding track and a lower sliding track such that said sliding door covers one of said first and second connection while exposing the other of said first and second connection.

Claims

1. A networking device, comprising:

a first transceiver and a second transceiver, said first and second transceivers configured to aid communication between a plurality of networked devices;

a first communication medium connection, said first connection in communication with said first transceiver, said first connection capable of receiving a first medium;

a second communication medium connection, said second connection in communication with said second transceiver, said second connection capable of receiving a second medium;

an interface, said interface capable of selecting between said first and second transceivers for use by said networking device to facilitate communication between devices of said plurality of networked devices; and

a sliding door, said sliding door retained between an upper sliding track and a lower sliding track such that said sliding door covers one of said first and second connection while exposing the other of said first and second connection.

2. The networking device of claim 1, wherein said first connection accommodates an Ethernet-compliant communication medium.

3. The networking device of claim 1, wherein said second connection accommodates a fiber optic communication medium.

4. The networking device of claim 1, wherein said first and second communication medium connections accommodate similar communication media.

5. The networking device of claim 1, wherein the networking device comprises a communication router.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the networking device comprises a networking switch.