Patent · US Active

Method and system for a plurality of physical layers for network connection

US8514877B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
4References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 28, 2006
Grant dateAug 20, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 7, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L41/142
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and systems for a plurality of physical layers for network connection may include coupling a MAC to one of a plurality of PHYs. The coupling to a specific PHY may be based on auto-detection of network activity, or network devices, via the PHYs. Also, one of the PHYs may be coupled to the MAC as a power-up default. The PHYs may be coupled to a same network, by, for example, cables. A first cable to a first PHY may couple it to a first network switch and a second cable to a second PHY may couple it to a second network switch. The first network switch may be rated to handle, for example, a greater data rate than the second network switch. The first cable may not be able to be used as a cable for the second PHY, and vice versa.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.