Apparatus and method for automatically determining the topology of a local area network
US5606664A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S715/97
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring and displaying the status of a local area network. The network includes a hub with ports for connection to various data terminal equipment in a star configuration and for connection to other hubs of the network. The hubs each have different types of plug-in modules which have ports for connecting the hub to different types of network cable such as fiber optic cable, unshielded twisted pair cable and shielded twisted pair cable. Information is automatically provided to a control console identifying the types of modules and the location of the modules in the hub so that an image of the actual hub can be displayed on the screen of the control console. The actual hub image shows the location and types of modules installed in the hub. In addition, information regarding the connection of each of the hubs to other hubs of the network is obtained and provided to the control console. The information is processed so as to automatically produce a topology map on the control console display showing the overall topology of the network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.