Automatic detection of a similar device at the other end of a wire in a computer network
US5920698A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Automatic detection by a port of the type of device connected by a cable to the port is accomplished by transmitting a control packet by the device, where the control packet has a nonstandard format. The port examines received packets for the nonstandard format. Upon detection of a packet having the nonstandard format, the port recognizes that the source device of the packet is of a predetermined type which transmits control packets of the nonstandard format. Further, by choosing the nonstandard format so that typical forwarding devices will not forward the nonstandard packet, the port is assured that the source device is attached to the port by a cable. That is, by choosing a nonstandard packet which is not forwarded by a bridge or router, the port is assured that the packet has not been forwarded from a remote part of the network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.