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US 10,320,612 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for providing automatic node configuration using a dongle
AssigneeTellabs Operations, Inc.
InventorsJames Kelly, Michael Krupicka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network element (“NE”) is capable of starting an automatic configuration in response to an initiator such as a dongle. In one embodiment, after resetting a counter used for identifying a signal, a process for the automatic configuration forces a first test signal at a test mode output (“TMO”) pin of a console interface to a logic state zero. Upon detecting a break condition at a receiver pin, a second test signal at the TMO pin is forced to a logic state one. When logic state one is detected at the receiver pin of the NE, an automatic configuration mode at the NE is activated.
Claims18
A method for configuring a network element, comprising:
- inserting an RJ45 plug into a serial communication port (“SCP”) of the network element (“NE”) to create a connection via the RJ45 plug between a test mode output (“TMO”) pin of the SCP and a receiver pin of the SCP, wherein the TMO pin is the 1st pin of the SCP, the receiver pin is the 6th pin of the SCP, and wherein the TMO pin makes contact with the 1st pin of the RJ45 plug, and the receiver pin of the SCP makes contact with the 6th pin of the RJ45 plug;
- after resetting a break condition counter to zero, generating, by the NE, a first test signal at the TMO pin to a relatively lower voltage representing a logic state zero;
- detecting a break condition when the receiver pin of the SCP receives the low voltage signal representing the logic state zero for a time period greater than a character length;
- incrementing the break condition counter;
- determining whether a break condition at the receiver pin of the SCP exists by querying the break condition counter;
- after determining the break condition exists, generating a second test signal at the TMO pin to a relatively higher voltage representing a logic state one;
- and
- activating an automatic configuration mode at the NE when the second test signal representing the logic state one is detected at the receiver pin of the SCP.
5 more elements
A method for activating an automatic configuration mode, comprising:
- plugging a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) plug into a console port of a network element (“NE”) to create a connection via the USB plug between a test mode output (“TMO”) pin of the NE and a receiver pin of the NE, wherein the TMO pin is the 2nd pin of the NE, and the receiver pin of the NE is the 3rd pin of the NE, and wherein the TMO pin couples to the 2nd pin of the USB plug and the receiver pin couples to the 3rd pin of the USB plug;
- after resetting a break condition counter to zero, transmitting a relatively lower voltage representing a logic state zero test signal from the NE to the USB plug via the TMO pin;
- detecting a break condition when the receiver pin of the NE receives the low voltage signal representing the logic state zero for a time period greater than a character length;
- incrementing the break condition counter after detecting an occurrence of the break condition;
- determining whether a break condition at the receiver pin of the NE exists by querying the break condition counter;
- after determining the break condition exists, sending a relatively higher voltage representing a logic state one test signal from the NE to the USB plug via the TMO pin to the 2nd pin of the USB plug;
- activating an automatic configuration if the logic state one signal is detected at the receiver pin in response to sending the logic state one test signal via the TMO pin.
4 more elements
A method for configuring a network element (“NE”), comprising:
- plugging a Thunderbolt plug (“plug”) into a serial communication port (“SCP”) of the NE to create a connection between a 3rd (“third”) pin of the plug and a 6th (sixth) pin of the plug, wherein a test mode output (“TMO”) pin of the SCP is located at the 3rd pin, and a receiver pin of the SCP is located at the 6th pin, wherein the TMO pin makes contact with the 3rd pin of the plug, and the receiver pin of the SCP makes contact with the 6th pin of the plug;
- after resetting a break condition counter to zero, transmitting a relatively lower voltage representing a logic zero value at the TMO pin of the SCP;
- incrementing a break condition counter when the receiver pin receives the logic zero value for a time period greater than a character length;
- determining whether a break condition at the receiver pin of the SCP exists by querying the break condition counter;
- after determining the break condition exists, generating a relatively higher voltage representing a logic state one value as a high test signal at the TMO pin;
- and
- activating an automatic configuration mode at the NE when the logic state one value is detected at the receiver pin of the SCP.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.