Apparatus and method for switching ethernet media type
US5444856A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/40
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system having two ports for connecting the computer system to a computer network by means of different transmission media types. Electronic switching is implemented to select between these two ports. The electronic switching is controlled by software. Depending upon which of the two ports is being utilized to connect the computer system to the network, power is either switched on or off to a transceiver. The switching can be accomplished by a voltage regulator with an enable signal or by means of a MOSFET. The computer system can detect which of the two ports is being utilized as a connection to the network by sending a data packet through each of the ports and determining the status of the transmissions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.