Handshaking between repeater and physical layer device in a variable rate network transceiver
US6507591B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/3054
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A novel method of operating physical layer devices in a local area network, such as one conforming to Ethernet protocol, in which there are a plurality of repeaters of respectively different data rates for communicating with a link partner on a network medium via the physical layer devices. Each physical layer device is prevented from communicating with the repeaters, when a change in the operating speed of the physical layer device is detected. Then, status information of the physical layer device is determined, and the physical layer device is enabled to communicate with a selected one of the repeaters having a data rate conforming to the operating rate of the physical layer device. In a preferred embodiment, each physical layer device has a variable operating speed selected depending on the operating speed of the link partner. A plurality of busses corresponding, respectively, to the speeds of operation of the repeaters, are provided for interconnecting the repeaters and the physical layer devices. A multiplexer interconnects each of the physical layer devices to a selected one of the plurality of busses. In response to a change in the operating speed of the physical layer devic…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.