System and Method for Link Rate Negotiation
AssigneeApplied Micro Circuits Corporation
InventorsMatthew Brown, Marika Herod, Yanming Gao
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for negotiating a link data rate in a communication system using a plurality of data rates. In a system including a first device network-connected to a second device, auto-negotiation (AN) messages are mutually transmitted. The AN messages indicate rate information such as preferred data rate capabilities, if the device has a dual-rate capability, or a single data rate capabilities. If the AN messages are mutually transmitted, a negotiated link data rate is established. However, if one of the devices cannot send AN messages, the other device times-out, and a link data rate is established at the data rate transmitted by the device that is not AN-capable.
Claims23
In a communication system using a plurality of data rates, a method for negotiating a link data rate, the method comprising:
- in a system, including a first device network-connected to a second device, mutually transmitting predetermined inquiry signals in the event that a negotiated data rate has not been determined, with the first device transmitting the inquiry signal at a first data rate and the second device transmitting the inquiry signal at a second data rate,
- in the event of the second device receiving an acknowledgement signal at the second data rate, the first and second devices transmitting non-predetermined data at the second data rate;
- and,
- in the event of the first device receiving an acknowledgement signal at the first data rate, the first and second devices transmitting non-predetermined data at the first data rate.
The method of claim. 1 further comprising:
- in response to a condition selected from a group consisting of a device reset and a management intervention, the first device disabling further transmissions for a predetermined period of time;
- in response to the lack of received transmissions, the second device restarting and disabling transmissions for a predetermined duration of time;
- and,
- following the restart, the first and second devices mutually transmitting inquiry signals if a negotiated data rate has not been determined.
The method of claim. 1 further comprising:
- prior to mutually transmitting inquiry signals, mutually transmitting AN messages indicating rate information selected from a group consisting of preferred data rate capabilities and single data rate capabilities;
- each device unilaterally determining a common negotiated data rate in response to evaluating their own data rate capabilities and received rate capabilities;
- mutually receiving AN replies indicating a successful negotiation;
- and,
- wherein transmitting non-predetermined data between the first and second devices includes transmitting non-predetermined data at the negotiated data rate.
In a communication network using a plurality of data rates, a system for negotiating a link data rate, the system comprising:
- a first device with a transceiver interfaced to a rate negotiation module;
- a second device with a transceiver, interfaced to a rate negotiation module and network-connected to the first device transceiver;
- wherein the rate negotiation modules of the first and second devices mutually order the transmission of predetermined inquiry signals in the event that a negotiated data rate has not been determined, with the first device transmitting the inquiry signal at a first data rate and the second device transmitting the Inquiry signal at a second data rate;
- wherein the first and second device rate negotiation modules order the transmission of non-predetermined data at the second data rate if the second device receives an acknowledgement signal from the first device at the second data rate;
- and,
- wherein the first and second device rate negotiation modules order the transmission of non-predetermined data at the first data rate in the event of the first device receives an acknowledgement signal from the second device at the first data rate.
In a communication system using a plurality of data rates, a method for negotiating a link data rate, the method comprising:
- in a system including a first device network-connected to a second device, mutually transmitting auto-negotiation (AN) messages indicating rate information selected from, a group consisting of preferred data rate capabilities and single data rate capabilities, and establishing a negotiated, link data rate;
- in the event that the second device cannot send AN messages, the first device timing-out, and establishing a link data rate at the data rate transmitted by the second device;
- in the event that only one of the devices is capable of transmitting at two data rates, establishing a link data rate at a data rate common to both devices;
- and,
- in the event that both of the devices are capable of transmitting at two data rates and the devices have different preferred data rates, establishing a link data rate at a system default preferred data rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.