Token ring local area network testing apparatus for obtaining beacon domain information
US5363366A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L43/50
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A token ring local area network (LAN) testing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes hardware and software for keeping track of information related to the origination of a beacon frame that occurs due to a fault in the token ring. When a fault occurs in the token ring, a beacon frame is generated and this frame is useful in reporting the network domain or location that initiated the beaconing condition. This information is useful to the network manager in isolating the token ring fault. In addition to the first or original beacon frame, further or phantom beacon frames can be generated. These phantom beacon frames include those generated by other stations on the token ring experiencing a signal loss due to steps taken by the originating station as a result of the fault. These phantom domains are usually not beneficial to the network manager in isolating the fault on the token ring. The testing apparatus includes a software state machine for use in distinguishing the first beacon frame from phantom beacon frames. A display unit is able to display information from the first beacon frame and avoids displaying information associated with phantom beacon frames.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.