Global and local command circuits for network devices

• US 7,472,203 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colorado vNet, LLC
• Inventors: Hesse, Scott, Adamson, Hugh P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdullahi; Salad
• Application Number:
  US10/631,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/253, 709/223, 713/310, 700275-276
• US Class Current: 709/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

Command system for a plurality of network devices. The command system may comprise a network administrator provided on a network, the network administrator issuing a command signal over the network. A plurality of device interfaces provided between the network and each of the network devices. Each of the plurality of device interfaces having: at least one input line to receive the command signal over the network; a transceiver operatively associated with the input line, the transceiver detecting the command signal on the input line; and at least one switching element provided between the transceiver and the network device, the at least one switching element establishing a link to the network device when the command signal is detected by the transceiver. The plurality of device interfaces delivering the command signal to the plurality of network devices.

Claims

1. A command system for a plurality of network devices which are adapted to be one or both of communicatively and operably connected to the command system via a network, the command system comprising:

a network administrator provided on a network, said network administrator issuing a command signal over the network;

a plurality of device interfaces provided between the network and each of a plurality of network devices, each of the plurality of device interfaces providing for one or both of communicatively and operably connecting a respective at least one of the plurality of network devices to the network, each of said plurality of device interfaces having;

at least one input line adapted to be one or both of communicatively and operably connected to the network and to receive the command signal over the network;

a transceiver operatively associated with said input line, said transceiver detecting the command signal on said input line; and

at least one switching element provided between said transceiver and the network device, said at least one switching element establishing a link to the respective network device operably or communicatively connected thereto, or both, when the command signal is detected by said transceiver;

said plurality of device interfaces delivering an action triggering signal to the plurality of network devices in response to the command signal.

2. The command system of claim 1, wherein said at least one switching element establishes a link to the network device to reset the device.

3. The command system of claim 1, wherein said at least one switching element establishes a link to the network device for triggering an action at the device.

4. The command system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of device interfaces further comprises a timer circuit, said timer circuit delaying said at least one switching element from establishing the link to the network device.

5. The command system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises at least one CAN bus.

6. The command system of claim 5, wherein said command signal is a sustained low/non-CAN signal issued over the CAN bus.

7. The command system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of network devices further comprises a manually-operable switch, said manually-operable switch signaling the network device.

8. The command system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of device interfaces comprises a failure circuit, said failure circuit reporting a failure at said device interface to said network administrator.

9. The command system of claim 1, further comprising a status indicator at said network device.

10. The command system of claim 1, further comprising a device identification circuit, said device identification circuit identifying said network device to said network administrator.