Distributed network repeater system
First Claim
1. A method for use in a system which includes communication over at least a first multi-wire cable, between first and second electronic devices during normal operation of the first and second electronic devices, the method for distinguishing at least a characteristic-of-interest related to the first multi-wire cable, a first end of the first multi-wire cable being coupled, during the normal operation, to a connector in the first electronic device, the method comprising:
- detecting, in the first electronic device, at least a first electrical characteristic of a first lead from the connector configured for connection to at least a first conductor of the first multi-wire cable, the first electrical characteristic being different from the characteristic-of-interest related to the first multi-wire cable, wherein the first electronic device is a module of a multi-module network repeater having two or more modules, and wherein the first electrical characteristics of the first lead corresponds to an electrical characteristic provided in the multi-wire cable; and
determining whether the characteristic-of-interest is present in the first multi-wire cable based at least in part upon correlating the detected first electrical characteristic of the first lead with the characteristic-of-interest, wherein the first electrical characteristic acts as a marker for the characteristic-of-interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A repeater, useable for connecting switches in a data communication network, is provided in a distributed and/or modular fashion. The repeater includes a plurality of separate and distinct components or modules connected to or at least partially housed in, the various switches which the repeater modules couple. Preferably, the repeater autodetects and/or autoconfigures some or all aspects of repeater operations, such as detecting and/or configuring appropriate full/half-duplex mode operation or detecting and/or configuring in response to appropriate or approved cable-type connections. The distributed and/or modular repeater facilitates accommodating various switching or repeater needs as a network grows or contracts.
108 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for use in a system which includes communication over at least a first multi-wire cable, between first and second electronic devices during normal operation of the first and second electronic devices, the method for distinguishing at least a characteristic-of-interest related to the first multi-wire cable, a first end of the first multi-wire cable being coupled, during the normal operation, to a connector in the first electronic device, the method comprising:
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detecting, in the first electronic device, at least a first electrical characteristic of a first lead from the connector configured for connection to at least a first conductor of the first multi-wire cable, the first electrical characteristic being different from the characteristic-of-interest related to the first multi-wire cable, wherein the first electronic device is a module of a multi-module network repeater having two or more modules, and wherein the first electrical characteristics of the first lead corresponds to an electrical characteristic provided in the multi-wire cable; and determining whether the characteristic-of-interest is present in the first multi-wire cable based at least in part upon correlating the detected first electrical characteristic of the first lead with the characteristic-of-interest, wherein the first electrical characteristic acts as a marker for the characteristic-of-interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for verifying a cable, comprising:
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at least a first electronic device; a connector means in the first electronic device for coupling to a multi-wire cable during normal use of the first electronic device, the multi-wire cable being a verified cable only if a characteristic-of-interest of the cable is within a predetermined range; and means for detecting, in the first electronic device, at least a first electrical characteristic of a first lead from the connector means, the first lead configured for connection to at least a first conductor of the multi-wire cable, the first electrical characteristic being different from the characteristic-of-interest and the first electrical characteristic corresponding to an electrical characteristic provided in the multi-wire cable, wherein whether the characteristic-of-interest is present in the multi-wire cable is determined based at least in part upon correlating the detected first electrical characteristic of the first lead with the characteristic-of-interest, wherein the first electrical characteristic acts as a marker for the characteristic-of-interest, and wherein the first electronic device is a module of a multi-module network repeater having two or more modules. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for use in a system which includes communication over at least a first multi-wire cable, between first and second electronic devices during normal operation of the first and second electronic devices, the apparatus for distinguishing at least a characteristic-of-interest related to the cable, a first end of the first multi-wire cable being coupled, during the normal operation, to a connector in the first electronic device, comprising:
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at least a first pull-up resistor coupled to a first lead from the connector, the first lead configured for connection to a first conductor of the multi-wire cable; and a connector to ground coupled to a second lead from the connector, the second lead configured for connection to a second conductor of the multi-wire cable; wherein there is a finite, non-zero resistance between first and second wires of the multi-wire cable; wherein the pull-up resistor has a resistance substantially greater than the finite non-zero resistance; wherein whether the characteristic-of-interest related to the cable is present in the cable is determined based at least in part upon correlating a detected electrical characteristic of the first lead with the characteristic-of-interest, wherein the first electrical characteristic acts as a marker for the characteristic-of-interest and; and wherein the first and second electronic devices are modules of a multi-module network repeater having two or more modules, and wherein the detected electrical characteristic of the first lead corresponds to an electrical characteristic provided in the multi-wire cable.
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23. Apparatus, in a first electronic device, the first electronic device configured with a coupler for coupling to a multi-wire cable, for communicating over the multi-wire cable with a second electronic device, the coupler providing a first lead coupleable to a first wire of the multi-wire cable, the apparatus usable for distinguishing at least a characteristic-of-interest of the cable, comprising:
circuitry, in the first electronic device, coupled to the first lead, wherein the circuitry detects at least a first electrical characteristic of the first lead during at least a first period while the multi-wire cable is coupled to the coupler and determines whether the characteristic-of-interest is present in the multi-wire cable based at least in part upon correlating the detected first electrical characteristic of the first lead with the characteristic-of-interest, wherein the first electrical characteristic acts as a marker for the characteristic-of-interest, and wherein the first electronic device is a module of a multi-module network repeater having two or more modules, and wherein the detected first electrical characteristic of the first lead corresponds to an electrical characteristic provided in the multi-wire cable. - View Dependent Claims (24)
Specification