Method and apparatus for connecting a network device to a daisy chain network
First Claim
1. A master network device for creating a network in a daisy chain configuration, the master network device comprising:
- a network component configured to operate on a daisy chain network and comprising an output port and an input port for connection to the daisy chain network; and
a connector hub operative to connect a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network, wherein each network device is connectable to the connector hub by a cable and each cable comprises two conductors, the connector hub comprising;
a plurality of sequential cable interfaces including a first cable interface and a last cable interface, each cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to a connecting circuit, each cable interface connectable to a cable;
wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that;
one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to the output port of the network component and the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a next cable interface;
the other of the conductor connectors of the next cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a succeeding cable interface, andconductor connectors of the subsequent succeeding cable interfaces are connected sequentially in the same manner; and
the other of the conductor connectors of the last cable interface is connected to the input port of the network component,and wherein when a network device is connected to each one of the interfaces of the network hub by a cable, the network devices are maintained in a daisy chain configuration by the connector hub.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network device configured to allows the connection of the network device to a network in a daisy chain configuration using a single cable. The network device is connected to a cable with two conductors by a socket that is adapted to receive a plug connected to the end of the cable. When the plug on the end of a cable is inserted into the socket, a first conductor in the cable is connected to an input port of a network component and a second conductor of the cable is connected to an output port of a network component. A signal from the network is transmitted down a first conductor in a cable to a network device and the signal is then transmitted back from the network device down a second conductor in the same cable.
13 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A master network device for creating a network in a daisy chain configuration, the master network device comprising:
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a network component configured to operate on a daisy chain network and comprising an output port and an input port for connection to the daisy chain network; and a connector hub operative to connect a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network, wherein each network device is connectable to the connector hub by a cable and each cable comprises two conductors, the connector hub comprising; a plurality of sequential cable interfaces including a first cable interface and a last cable interface, each cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to a connecting circuit, each cable interface connectable to a cable; wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that; one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to the output port of the network component and the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a next cable interface; the other of the conductor connectors of the next cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a succeeding cable interface, and conductor connectors of the subsequent succeeding cable interfaces are connected sequentially in the same manner; and the other of the conductor connectors of the last cable interface is connected to the input port of the network component, and wherein when a network device is connected to each one of the interfaces of the network hub by a cable, the network devices are maintained in a daisy chain configuration by the connector hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A connector hub to connect a plurality of network devices in a daisy chain network, wherein each network device is connectable to the connector hub by a cable and wherein each cable comprises two conductors, the connector hub comprising:
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a connecting circuit; a primary network device interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect a conductor to the connecting circuit; and a plurality of sequential cable interfaces including a first cable interface and a last cable interface, each cable interface comprising a pair of conductor connectors, each conductor connector operative to connect one conductor of a connected cable to the connecting circuit, each cable interface connectable to a cable; wherein the connecting circuit is configured such that; one of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of the primary network device interface and the other of the conductor connectors of the first cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a next cable interface and the other of the conductor connectors of the next cable interface is connected to one of the conductor connectors of a succeeding cable interface; conductor connectors of the subsequent succeeding cable interfaces are connected sequentially in the same manner; and the other of the conductor connectors of the last cable interface is connected to the other conductor connector of the primary network device interface, and wherein when a network device is connected to each one of the interfaces of the network hub by a cable, the network devices are maintained in a daisy chain configuration by the connector hub. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification