Method and system for utilizing a reserved and/or out of band channel for maintaining a network connection

• US 7,881,331 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Powell, Scott, Diab, Wael William
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US12/107,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/329, 370/395, 370/465, 370/264, 370/397, 370/310, 370/241, 370/248, 709/230
• US Class Current: 370/464
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/16 in which the time allocation to individual channels within a transmission cycle is variable, e.g. to accommodate varying complexity of signals, to vary number of channels transmitted H04J3/17, H04J3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40136 Nodes adapting their rate to the physical link properties LAN switches H04L49/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for utilization of an reserved and/or out of band channel for maintaining a network connection are provided. In this regard, information relating to training of one or more link partners communicatively coupled to an Ethernet link may be exchanged via a reserved and/or out of band channel on the Ethernet link. The reserved and/or out of band channel may be an auxiliary channel as specified by the IEEE802.1AN standard. The reserved and/or out of band channel may be utilized for scheduling training of one or more of the link partners, determining which of the link partners require training, synchronizing training of the link partners, training the link partners based on changes in environmental conditions. The training may comprise configuring an echo canceller a far-end crosstalk canceller, and/or a near-end crosstalk canceller.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

performing by a network device communicatively coupled to one or more link partners via an Ethernet link;

communicating information pertaining to training of said one or more link partners via said Ethernet link, wherein;

said information pertaining to training is communicated via a channel on said Ethernet link, said channel being reserved for said communicating of said information pertaining to training; and

said information pertaining to training is communicated concurrently with data communications over said Ethernet link.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reserved channel is an auxiliary channel as provided for in the IEEE802.1AN standard.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising scheduling training of said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining which of said one or more link partners require training based on said communicated information.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising synchronizing training of said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising verifying and/or updating parameters in said one or more link partners, wherein said verifying and/or updating is performed via said communicated information based on changes in environmental conditions.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring an echo canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring a far-end crosstalk canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring a near-end crosstalk canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

10. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for networking, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

performing by a network device communicatively coupled to one or more link partners via an Ethernet link;

communicating information pertaining to training of said one or more link partners via to said Ethernet link, wherein;

said information pertaining to training is communicated via a channel on said Ethernet link, said channel being reserved for said communicating of said information pertaining to training; and

said information pertaining to training is communicated concurrently with data communications over said Ethernet link.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said reserved channel is an auxiliary channel as provided for in the IEEE802.1AN standard.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for scheduling training of said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for determining which of said one or more link partners require training based on said communicated information.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for synchronizing training of said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein:

said at least one code section comprises code for verifying and/or updating parameters in said one or more link partners; and

said verifying and/or updating is performed via said communicated information based on changes in environmental conditions.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring an echo canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring a far-end crosstalk canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring a near-end crosstalk canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

19. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a network device communicatively coupled to one or more link partners via an Ethernet link wherein;

said one or more circuits are operable to communicate information pertaining to training of said one or more link partners via said Ethernet link;

said information pertaining to training is communicated via a channel on said Ethernet link, said channel being reserved for said communicating of said information pertaining to training; and

said information pertaining to training is communicated concurrently with data communications over said Ethernet link.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said reserved channel is an auxiliary channel as provided for in the IEEE802.1AN standard.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to schedule training of said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to determine which of said one or more link partners require training based on said communicated information.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to synchronize training of said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein:

said one or more circuits are operable to update and/or verify parameters in said one or more link partners; and

said verification and/or updating is performed via said communicated information based on changes in environmental conditions.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure an echo canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure a far-end crosstalk canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure a near-end crosstalk canceller in said one or more link partners based on said communicated information.