Integrated switch
First Claim
1. A method of switching data between I/O ports and a gigabit controller having a media access controller (MAC), the method comprising:
- executing a first predetermined time delay to de-bounce a connection switch;
after the delay, reading connection status information from a connection sensor, wherein the connection status indicates whether a first or a second I/O port is coupled to an external device;
monitoring an energy level of each I/O port having a connection status of connected;
determining whether each of the monitored I/O ports is active based on the energy level; and
switching data from the MAC to the first I/O port when the first I/O port is active and to the second I/O port when the second I/O port is active while the first I/O port is inactive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Switching between communication ports of a notebook is typically accomplished using an off-chip local area network (LAN) switch or an off-chip high speed analog multiplexer. This off-chip component is disadvantageous for several reasons, including: added cost of an additional component; increased overall power consumption because transmit amplitude loss; and reduced cable reach and link performance due to hybrid mismatch and signal distortions. To reduce cost and preserve electrical and networking performance, an integrated switch is provided to multiplex signals of a networking communication chip to multiple network paths.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of switching data between I/O ports and a gigabit controller having a media access controller (MAC), the method comprising:
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executing a first predetermined time delay to de-bounce a connection switch; after the delay, reading connection status information from a connection sensor, wherein the connection status indicates whether a first or a second I/O port is coupled to an external device; monitoring an energy level of each I/O port having a connection status of connected; determining whether each of the monitored I/O ports is active based on the energy level; and switching data from the MAC to the first I/O port when the first I/O port is active and to the second I/O port when the second I/O port is active while the first I/O port is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a first communication port and a second communication port; a media access controller (MAC); a switch assembly having a first switch coupled to the first communication port and a second switch coupled to the second communication port; a switch controller configured to execute a first predetermined time delay to de-bounce a connection switch; and a sensor configured to, after the delay, read connection status information to determine whether the first or second communication port is coupled to an external device, monitor an energy level of each communication port having a connection status of connected, determine whether each of the monitored communication ports is active based on the energy level, and switch data from the MAC to the first communication port when the first communication port is active and to the second communication port when the second communication port is active. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification