Nova Patents
WO9413072A1

Method and apparatus for automatic configuration of a network connection

Abstract

The present invention provides automatic configuration of the transmit and receive paths of a network connection, preferably a 10 Base-T 5 network connection. It senses which pair in a cable is used for TX signals (430A, 438A) and which is used for RX signals (430B, 438B) then it automatically swaps or unswaps the RX and TX pairs of the port so that a connection is made regardless of whether a crossover (434) or straight-through cable (432, 436) is used. The invention uses link integrity pulses, which are used to periodically test the integrity of the network, to determine which pair is for reception and which is for transmission. Since the auto-crossover transceiver has line receivers and line drivers connected to both pairs of the cable, once it determines which pair is TX and which is RX, it selects the appropriate line receiver and driver to match the cable configuration. The present invention allows connection to a network where another node on the network is either of the standard "hub" type, of the standard "MAU" type, or of the auto-crossover type.

WO9413072A1, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 46

Term

No projected expiry on record.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Published
  3. Today

28 claims: 12 independent, 16 dependent

  1. 1
    CLAIMS 1. Connecting means for connecting a device to signal lines in a network comprising:first selecting means for selecting a receive path;sensing means for sensing link integrity pulses;generating means for generating link integrity pulses.
  2. 6
    The connecting means of daim 4 wherein said network comprises a lOBase-T network.
  3. 7
    Apparatus for providing a network connection comprising:a first unidirectional communication path;a second unidirectional communication path;seleding means selectably coupled to said first unidirectional communications path and to said second unidirectional communication path for monitoring said first communication path and said second communication path for a received network status signal and for selecting among said first communication path and said second communication path in response to said received network status signal.
  4. 10
    A method of configuring a network connection comprising the steps of:transmitting a first fransmitted network status signal over a first unidirectional communication path;monitoring a second unidirectional communication path for a received network status signal;transmitting a second fransmitted network status signal over said second unidirectional communication path;monitoring said first unidirectional communication path for said received network status signal;transmitting a third fransmitted network status signal after receiving said received network status signal.
  5. 11
    The method of daim 10 further comprising the steps of:testing whether a timeout delay has been exceeded;testing whether a link good state has been entered.
  6. 13
    Apparatus for providing a network connection comprising:automatic selection means for automatically identifying and selecting a transmit path and a receive path from a first unidirectional communication path and a second unidirectional communication path in response to a signal received on said receive path.
  7. 15
    A connector for connecting a device to signal lines in local area network comprising:first bypass means coupled to said signal lines at first port, said first bypass means for sending and receiving signals;second bypass means coupled to said first bypass means and to said signal lines at a second port, said second bypass means for sending and receiving signals;repeater means coupled to said first bypass means, said second bypass means and to said device, said repeater means for retransmitting signals received from one of said first and second bypass means to said device and to the other of said first and second bypass means, and for retransmitting signals from said device of both of said first and second bypass means.
  8. 16
    The connector of daim 15 wherein said first bypass means and said second bypass means each comprise a plurality of relays.
  9. 19
    A connector for connecting a device to signal lines in network comprising:a first bypass drcuit coupled to a first receive unit and a first transmit circuit;a second bypass drcuit coupled to said first bypass circuit and to a second receive drcuit and a second transmit cirucuit;a first fransmitter coupled to said first fransmit drcuit and to a logic block;a first receiver coupled to said frist receive circuit and to said logic block;a second fransmitter coupled to said second fransmit drcuit and to said logic block;a second receiver coupled to said second receive cirucit and to said logic block;a third transmitter coupled to said logic block and to said device;a third receiver coupled to said logic block and to said device;a collision detect circuit coupled to said logic block and to said device.
  10. 23
    The connector of daim 22 wherein said logic block reformats data packets to begin with negative going pulses.
  11. 25
    A method for making an Ethernet link segment have the characteristics of an Ethernet bus segment comprising the steps of:separating said link segment into two subsegments whenever power is available;repeating data received on first subsegment to said second subsegment and to a tap for adding an additional Ethernet node;repeating said data received on said second subsegment to said first subsegment and to said tap;repeating data received on said tap to said first subsegment and to said second subsegment;and, bypassing said tap whenever power is unavailable by connecting said first subsegment to said second subsegment.
  12. 27
    The method of daim 26 wherein said tap is an AUI connection.
Independent claims12