Common interface for a network having different communication media employing a carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) protocol
US5838989A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switchable interface for conveniently coupling a network station of the CSMA/CD type to a network having any of a variety of communication media. The invention provides a single interface connector through which connection may be made directly to a twisted-pair medium, using the 10BASE-T protocol, or to a medium of a different type, through an AUI protocol and an appropriate media attachment unit. The interface connector has pin assignments chosen to minimize adverse effects of misconfiguring the station by connecting to a network having a protocol that is different from the one selected in the switchable interface. In one form of the invention, the switchable interface has the ability to determine the protocol being used by the network to which it is connected, and to switch the interface accordingly. Use of the common interface reduces station equipment cost and provides for increased user convenience, since only a single connector is needed to connect to a variety of media types.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.