System and method for detecting an improper termination and a short circuit in a network
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorCharles H. Whiteside
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for detecting an improperly terminated network for networks using a collision detection access scheme. Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate a system and method for detecting a short circuit in a network. For detecting both an improperly terminated network and a short circuit in a network, the present invention relies on the detection of certain changes in the voltage of the network.
Claims17
A system for detecting whether a network, using a collision detection access scheme to transmit information packets, is improperly terminated, comprising:
- first counter means, responsive to the network, for counting the number of information packets transmitted over a first specified period of time;
- second counter means, responsive to the network, for counting the number of information packets which appear damaged over said first specified period of time;
- and
- comparator means for comparing the number counted by said first counter means with the number counted by said second counter means after the expiration of said first specified period of time,
- wherein an "open termination " signal is generated when the number counted by said first counter means and the number counted by said second counter means are identical.
A system for detecting whether a network, using a collision detection access scheme to transmit information packets, has a short circuit, comprising:
- first counter means, responsive to the network, for counting the number of information packets transmitted over a specified period of time;
- second counter means, responsive to the network, for counting the number of information packets having positive peak voltages over said specified period of time;
- and
- comparator means for comparing the number counted by said first counter means with the number counted by said second counter means after the expiration of said specified period of time,
- wherein a "short circuit " signal is generated when the number counted by said first counter means and the number counted by said second counter means are identical.
A method for detecting whether a network, using a collision detection access scheme to transmit information packets, is improperly terminated, comprising the steps of:
- (1) concurrently detecting information packet transmissions and damaged information packets on the network;
- (2) incrementing a number on a first counter upon detection of an information packet transmission, and incrementing a number on a second counter upon detection of a damaged information packet;
- (3) determining whether a first specified period has elapsed, and re-executing said steps (1)-(3) where said first specified period has not elapsed;
- (4) comparing the number incremented on said first counter with the number incremented on said second counter, and generating a signal indicating improper termination of the network when the number incremented on said first counter and the number incremented on aid second counter are identical.
A method for detecting whether a network, using a collision detection access scheme to transmit information packets, has a short circuit, comprising the steps of:
- (1) concurrently detecting information packet transmissions and information packets having positive peak voltages on the network;
- (2) incrementing a number on a first counter upon detection of an information packet transmission, and incrementing a number on a short circuit counter upon detection of an information packet having a positive peak voltage;
- (3) determining whether a specified period has elapsed, and re-executing said steps (1)-(3) when said specified period has not elapsed;
- (4) comparing the number incremented on said first counter with the number incremented on said short circuit counter, and generating a signal indicating a short circuit in the network when the number incremented on said first counter and the number incremented on said short circuit counter are identical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.