Method and apparatus for detecting the network link status of computer systems
US6215764A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/00
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting the link status of a network device in a computer system. An automatic link status detection mechanism allows a system to operate intelligently in a normal operation mode if the link status is on, or a suspend mode if the link state is down. The mechanism includes an auto link poll controller and a polling cycle generator for generating a sequence of polling cycles to query the link status of the network device. A media independent interface management frame having a preamble field is generated in a polling cycle. Because of the improved preamble field, it is to assure that an exact polling cycle is complete when a polling cycle is issued to the physical layer of the network device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.