Patent · US Expired

Method and device for determining link status in a computer network

US5737316A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 2, 1995
Grant dateApr 7, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 2, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L43/0847
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A process for detecting link status in a computer network where the link and the load at the end of the link have a matched characteristic impedance. The data to be transmitted over the link is converted into a substantially continuous, random signal with a substantially known spectrum. This signal is transmitted over a link from a first end to the second or receiving end of the link. The first end of the link is analyzed for a reflection signal caused by a mismatch of the characteristic impedance of the link and the termination of the link. The link is identified as satisfactory if the reflection signal represents a substantial match between the characteristic impedance of the link and the characteristic impedance of the termination of the link. The link is identified as defective if the reflection signal represents a mismatch between the characteristic impedance of the link and the termination.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.