Interface for upgrading serial backplane application from ethernet to gigabit ethernet
AssigneeSycamore Networks, Inc.
InventorSteven J. April
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interface device having a plurality of ports with a plurality of speed configurations for a serial backplane with 2-pair copper transmission lines, has a plurality of high speed Ethernet ports and a plurality of Gigabit Ethernet ports. A switch mechanism for selecting between the high speed Ethernet ports and the Gigabit Ethernet ports will connect the selected port to the serial backplane via the 2-pair copper transmission lines.
Claims12
An interface having a plurality of ports with a plurality of speed configurations for a serial backplane with 2-pair copper transmission lines, comprising:
- a plurality of high speed Ethernet ports;
- a plurality of Gigabit Ethernet ports with a SERDES interface;
- a switch mechanism for selecting between said high speed Ethernet ports and said Gigabit Ethernet ports and for connecting said selected port to said serial backplane via said 2-pair copper transmission lines.
In a device having a serial backplane with 2-pair copper transmission lines having two interface devices, said interface devices having a plurality of communication cards with either high speed Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet speed configurations connected via said ports, a communication method for two of said communication cards on said each of two interface devices across said serial backplane, comprising steps of:
- the first of said two cards initiating contact with the second of said two cards by a negotiating a highest common speed configuration among said two cards;
- initiating said switching mechanisms to connect said two cards via said negotiated highest common speed configuration to said serial backplane via said 2-pair copper transmission lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.