Adapter channel mapping system and method

• US 7,590,142 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avo Multi-AMP Corporation (Thyssen Bornemisza Family)
• Original Assignee: Avo Multi-AMP Corporation (Thyssen Bornemisza Family)
• Inventors: Barmettler, Mark G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US10/816,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20050220138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 370/362, 370/364, 370/437, 370/465, 370/285, 370/401, 370/402
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

An adapter channel mapping system for mapping channels of a network is provided. The system comprises a memory component operable to communicate with the network and having a first and a second memory portion, the first memory portion operable to communicate with a first physical channel of the network and the second memory portion operable to communicate with a second physical channel of the network and a mapping component operable to map, based on a first map, to the first and second memory portions based on a first configuration of the network and further operable to map, based on a second map, to the first and second memory portions based on a second configuration of the network. A method for testing networks employing 568A or 568B channel adapters is also provided. A method for selectively testing networks employing different channel adapters is also provided.

Claims

1. An adapter channel mapping system for mapping channels of a network, comprising:

a memory component operable to communicate with the network and having a first memory portion and a second memory portion, the first memory portion operable to communicate with a first physical channel of the network corresponding to at least a first cabling wire and the second memory portion operable to communicate with a second physical channel of the network corresponding to at least a second cabling wire;

a mapping component operable to map each one of the first and second memory portions to one of the first and second physical channels based on a first configuration of the network and further operable to map each one of the first and second memory portions to one of the first and second physical channels based on a second configuration of the network; and

a selector component in communication with the mapping component and operable in a first selection mode to cause the mapping component to map based on the first map and operable in a second selection mode to map based on the second map, wherein the selector component is further defined as a user interface operable for a user to select one of the first and second modes associated with one of the first and second network configurations, the user interface coupled to communicate the selection to the mapping component.

2. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 1, wherein the selector component automatically detects the network configuration.

3. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 1, wherein the selector component is further defined as a switch in communication with the mapping component, the switch having a first switch position associated with the first selection mode and a second switch position associated with the second selection mode.

4. An adapter channel mapping system for mapping channels of a network employing a first wired pair associated with a first network channel, a second wired pair associated with a second network channel, a third wired pair associated with a third network channel, a fourth wired pair associated with a fourth network channel, the adapter channel mapping system comprising:

a test device coupleable to a channel adapter of the network;

a memory component coupled to the test device having a first, second, third, and fourth memory portions, the first memory portion coupleable to communicate with the first network channel, the second memory portion coupleable to communicate with the second network channel, the third memory portion coupleable to communicate with the third network channel, and the fourth memory portion coupleable to communicate with the fourth network channel; and

a mapping component operable to map a first variable to first memory portion and a fourth variable to the fourth memory portion, the mapping component operable to selectively map a second and third variables between the second and third memory portions based on a configuration of the network.

5. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 4, wherein the mapping component is further defined as a software component.

6. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 4, wherein the mapping component is further defined as a series of instructions.

7. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 4, wherein the mapping component is further defined as a pointer directing at least the second and third variables between one of the second and third memory portions.

8. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 4, wherein a first network configuration employs a 568A channel adapter wherein the second wired pair is associated with a 3^rd and 6^th wires and the third wired pair is associated with a 1^st and 2^nd wires and wherein a second network configuration employs a 568B channel adapter wherein the second wired pair is associated with a 1^st and 2^nd wires and the third wired pair is associated with a 3^rd and 6^th wires.

9. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 8, wherein the mapping component maps the second variable to the second memory portion associated with the second wired pair and maps the third variable to the third memory portion associated with the third wired pair when the network configuration employs 568A channel adapter and wherein the mapping component maps the third variable to the second memory portion associated with the second wired pair and maps the second variable to the third memory portion associated with the third wired pair when the network configuration employs a 568B channel adapter.

10. The adapter channel mapping system of claim 9, wherein the mapping component is further defined as a software component including a Boolean statement selectable based on the network employing one of 568A and 568B channel adapters.