# US 10,320,612 B2 · Method and apparatus for providing automatic node configuration using a dongle

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- Number: US 10,320,612 B2
- Document ID: US10320612B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/310,764
- Filed: 2014-06-20
- Published: 2015-12-24
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-20
- Assignees: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
- Applicants: James Kelly; Michael Krupicka
- Inventors: James Kelly; Michael Krupicka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320612B2

## CPC

- H04L 41/0886: {Fully automatic configuration}
- H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning
- H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the automatic configuration mode inactive as a default mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a break condition at the receiver pin of the SCP exists includes detecting a logic state zero at the receiver pin of the console interface for a period of time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the period of time is a time period sufficient to detect at least a character.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating, by the NE, a first test signal at the TMO pin includes setting a logic zero value at the 1st pin of the SCP for a predefined period of time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether a break condition at the receiver pin of the SCP includes detecting a logic zero at sixth pin of the SCP.

### Claim 7

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining an automatic configuration inactive if the logic state one signal is not detected at the receiver pin in response to the logic state one test signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein sending a relatively higher voltage representing a logic state zero test signal includes allowing a test signal with logic state zero to flow from the TMO pin to the receiver pin via a connection between the first pin and the second pin of the serial communication connector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein detecting a break condition includes receiving a logic state zero signal at the receiver pin for a predefined period of time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the predefined time is a time length sufficient to detect at least a character.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein sending a relatively higher voltage representing a logic state zero test signal includes forcing a logic zero value at the 2nd pin of the console port of the NE.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein detecting a break condition includes detecting a logic zero at the 3rd pin of the console port of the NE.

### Claim 14

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining the automatic configuration mode inactive as a default mode.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether a break condition includes detecting a logic state zero at the receiver pin of the console interface for a period of time.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the period of time is a time period sufficient to detect at least a character.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein plugging an RJ45 plug into a serial communication port (“SCP”) of the NE includes inserting the RJ45 plug into a console socket of a router connected to a network node.