Network link endpoint capability detection
DC
First Claim
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1. In a data communication network comprising a hub coupled to at least one node, an apparatus for establishing communication between the hub and a node comprising:
- a hub transmitter coupled to the hub for transmitting a hub protocol signal to the node, the hub protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the hub is capable of communicating;
a node receiver coupled to the node for receiving the hub protocol signal;
a node transmitter coupled to the node for transmitting a node protocol signal to the hub, the node protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the node is capable of communicating;
wherein the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal is different from the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal;
a hub receiver coupled to the hub for receiving the node protocol signal;
a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the hub receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the hub is capable of communicating; and
wherein the hub transmitter includes a communication circuit for communicating with the node using the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal in response thereto.
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Abstract
Support for a mixed network environment is provided which can contain multiple isochronous and/or non-isochronous LAN protocols such as isochronous-ethernet, ethernet, isochronous-token ring, token ring, other isochronous-LAN or other LAN systems. Support for a mixed environment includes a protocol detection mechanism which is embodied in a handshaking scheme. This handshaking scheme determines the signalling capability at the end points of the link and implements the correct protocol. This enables isochronous nodes and hubs to automatically detect the presence of ethernet, token ring, or other LAN equipment at the other end of the network cable. If this detection occurs, the isochronous LAN equipment will fall-back to a LAN compliant mode of operation. Typically, only the hub will have the capability of operating in different networking modes, such as ethernet, Token Ring isochronous modes. The hub will listen for some form of identification from the attached nodes as to the type of service to provide—isochronous or non-isochronous; ethernet, token ring or other LAN service.
128 Citations
240 Claims
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1. In a data communication network comprising a hub coupled to at least one node, an apparatus for establishing communication between the hub and a node comprising:
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a hub transmitter coupled to the hub for transmitting a hub protocol signal to the node, the hub protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the hub is capable of communicating;
a node receiver coupled to the node for receiving the hub protocol signal;
a node transmitter coupled to the node for transmitting a node protocol signal to the hub, the node protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the node is capable of communicating;
wherein the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal is different from the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal;
a hub receiver coupled to the hub for receiving the node protocol signal;
a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the hub receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the hub is capable of communicating; and
wherein the hub transmitter includes a communication circuit for communicating with the node using the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a data communication network comprising a hub coupled to at least one node, an apparatus for establishing communication between the hub and a node comprising:
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a hub transmitter coupled to the hub for transmitting a hub protocol signal to the node, the hub protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the hub is capable of communicating;
a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the node receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the node is capable of communicating; and
a node transmitter coupled to the protocol identifying circuit for transmitting a node protocol signal, including a format for a data transmission, to the hub indicating that communication between the hub and the node will take place with the protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a data communication network comprising a hub coupled to at least one node, an apparatus for establishing communication between the hub and a node comprising:
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a hub transmitter coupled to the hub for transmitting a hub protocol signal to the node, the hub protocol signal indicating one of a plurality of communication protocols, including a format for a data transmission, with which the hub is capable of communicating;
a node receiver coupled to the node for receiving the hub protocol signal;
a first protocol identifying circuit coupled to the node receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the node is capable of communicating;
a node transmitter coupled to the node receiver for transmitting a node protocol signal to the hub, the node protocol signal indicating the communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, indicated by the hub protocol signal if the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal is a communication protocol with which the node is capable of communicating;
a hub receiver coupled to the hub for receiving the node protocol signal;
a second protocol identifying circuit coupled to the hub receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the hub is capable of communicating;
wherein the hub transmitter includes a communication circuit for communicating with the node using the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. In a data communication network comprising at least first and second communication endpoints, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter coupled to the first endpoint for transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint receiver coupled to the second endpoint for receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
a second endpoint transmitter coupled to the second endpoint receiver for transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
a first endpoint receiver coupled to the first endpoint for receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the first endpoint receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
a communication circuit in said first endpoint transmitter responsive to said protocol identifying circuit for communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. In a data communication network comprising at least first and second communication endpoints, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter coupled to the first endpoint for transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint receiver coupled to the second endpoint for receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
a second endpoint transmitter coupled to the second endpoint receiver for transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal, responsive to receipt of said said first endpoint protocol signal, to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
a first endpoint receiver coupled to the first endpoint for receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the first endpoint receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
a communication circuit in said first endpoint transmitter responsive to said protocol identifying circuit for communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal.
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73. In a data communication network comprising at least a first endpoint coupled to at least a second endpoint, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first endpoint and the second endpoint comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint receiver receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
a second endpoint transmitter transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
wherein the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal is different from the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal;
a first endpoint receiver receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
a first endpoint protocol identifying circuit coupled to the first endpoint receiver identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
wherein the first endpoint transmitter includes a communication circuit for communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. In a data communication network comprising at least a first endpoint coupled to at least a second endpoint, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first endpoint and the second endpoint comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to a second endpoint receiver, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint protocol identifying circuit identifying the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating; and
a second endpoint transmitter transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint indicating that communication between the first endpoint and the second endpoint will take place with the protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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110. In a data communication network comprising at least a first endpoint coupled to at least a second endpoint, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first endpoint and a second endpoint comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating one of a plurality of communication protocols, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint receiver receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
a second endpoint protocol identifying circuit identifying the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint transmitter transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal if the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal is a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
a first endpoint receiver receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
a first endpoint protocol identifying circuit identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
wherein the first endpoint transmitter includes a communication circuit communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149)
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150. In a data communication network comprising at least first and second communication endpoints, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint receiver receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
a second endpoint transmitter transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
a first endpoint receiver receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
a first endpoint protocol identifying circuit identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
a first endpoint communication circuit responsive to the first endpoint protocol identifying circuit for communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171)
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172. In a data communication network comprising at least first and second communication endpoints, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising:
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a first endpoint transmitter transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
a second endpoint receiver receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
a second endpoint transmitter transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal, responsive to receipt of the first endpoint protocol signal, to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
a first endpoint receiver receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
a first endpoint protocol identifying circuit identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
a first endpoint communication circuit communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179)
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180. In a data communication network comprising at least one first endpoint coupled to at least one second endpoint, a method in a system for establishing communication between a first endpoint and a second endpoint comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal from a first endpoint transmitter to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the first endpoint protocol signal with a second endpoint receiver;
transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal from a second endpoint transmitter to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
wherein the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal is different from the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal;
receiving the second endpoint protocol signal with a first endpoint receiver;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
wherein the first endpoint transmitter communicates with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191)
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192. In a data communication network comprising at least one first endpoint coupled to at least one second endpoint, a method in a system for establishing communication between a first endpoint and a second endpoint comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal from a first endpoint transmitter to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating; and
transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint indicating that communication between the first endpoint and the second endpoint will take place with the protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203)
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204. In a data communication network comprising at least one first endpoint coupled to at least one second endpoint, a method in a system for establishing communication between a first endpoint and a second endpoint comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal from a first endpoint to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating one of a plurality of communication protocols, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the first endpoint protocol signal with a second endpoint receiver;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal if the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal is a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the second endpoint protocol signal with the first endpoint;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
wherein the first endpoint transmitter communicates with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215)
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216. In a data communication network comprising at least first and second endpoints, a method in a system for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal from a first endpoint to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the first endpoint protocol signal at the second endpoint;
transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal from the second endpoint to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the second endpoint protocol signal at the first endpoint;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
communicating between the first endpoint and the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227)
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228. In a data communication network comprising at least first and second endpoints, a method in a system for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal from a first endpoint to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the first endpoint protocol signal at the second endpoint;
transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal, responsive to receipt of the first endpoint protocol signal, from the second endpoint to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the second endpoint protocol signal at the first endpoint;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
communicating between the first endpoint and the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal. - View Dependent Claims (229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239)
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240. In a data communication network comprising at least one first endpoint coupled to at least one second endpoint, a method in a system for establishing communication between a first endpoint and a second endpoint comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal from a first endpoint transmitter to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint indicating that communication between the first endpoint and the second endpoint will take place with the protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal;
the method further comprising the steps of;
transmitting the first endpoint protocol signal from the first endpoint to the second endpoint;
receiving the first endpoint protocol signal with a second endpoint receiver;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal from among the plurality of communication protocols with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
transmitting the second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal if the communication protocol indicated by the first endpoint protocol signal is a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
receiving the second endpoint protocol signal with the first endpoint;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
wherein the first endpoint transmitter communicates with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal;
the method further comprising the steps of;
transmitting the first endpoint protocol signal from the first endpoint to the second endpoint;
receiving the first endpoint protocol signal at the second endpoint;
transmitting the second endpoint protocol signal from the second endpoint to the first endpoint;
receiving the second endpoint protocol signal at the first endpoint;
identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating; and
communicating between the first endpoint and the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal.
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeNegotiated Data Solutions LLC (Negotiated Data Solutions)
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Original AssigneeNegotiated Data Solutions LLC (Negotiated Data Solutions)
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InventorsEdem, Brian C., Worsley, Debra J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Ho, Duc
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Assistant Examiner(s)Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
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Application NumberUS09/443,250Time in Patent Office2,566 DaysField of Search370/466, 370/453, 370/465, 370/522US Class Current370/446CPC Class CodesH04L 12/44 Star or tree networksH04L 12/6418 Hybrid transportH04L 2012/6437 RingH04L 2012/6451 Deterministic, e.g. Token, ...H04L 2012/6454 Random, e.g. EthernetH04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMAH04L 29/06 characterised by a protocolH04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN...H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g...H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI ...
