Network interface card using physical layer microcontroller and method of operation
US7194502B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/34
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
There is disclosed an apparatus for controlling a physical layer interface of a network interface card. The apparatus comprises: 1) a read only memory (ROM) for storing an embedded control program; 2) a random access memory for storing a downloadable software control program; and 3) a microcontroller for controlling the physical layer interface, wherein the microcontroller in a first operating mode executes the embedded control program to thereby control the physical layer interface, and wherein the microcontroller in a second operating mode downloads the downloadable software control program from an external processing system and executes the software control program in place of the embedded control program to thereby control the physical layer interface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.