US 5,309,092 AGranted

Token ring test simulation method and device

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company

InventorsDavid Kuntz, Bharat Singh, Kittur Nagesh, Ronald McBride

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Abstract

A loopback connector system for testing token ring components such as routers or interface assemblies with requiring that the component to be tested be connected into the local area network (LAN). The connector permits the component to be tested to be isolated from the LAN, permitting the integrity of the component to be tested without regard to the integrity of lobe cables or other devices on the ring, and without degrading network performance. The connector system includes two different multi-pin connector types, a DB9 and an RJ45 connector, used to connect into the network, separated by a short two-pair cable. Resistors used to simulate the network loading on the component are connected between appropriate pins, with the resistors being shared between the two types of connectors.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A multi-purpose Token Ring loopback connector system for permitting Token Ring local area network (LAN) components to be tested without connecting the component to-be-tested into said LAN, the components to-be-tested including either a first type of multi-pin electrical connector or a second type of multi-pin electrical connector for connecting said component into said LAN, wherein said system comprising:

first compatible connector means for connecting to said first type of electrical connector, said connector means including a pin pattern for mating with said first type of connector;
second compatible connector means for connecting to said second type of electrical connector, said connector means including a pin pattern for mating with said second type of connector;
means for electrically connecting corresponding first and second pin pairs of said first and second connector means;
and
load simulating means connected to said corresponding first and second pin pairs for simulating the nominal load presented to said network component to-be-tested when said component is connected into said Token Ring network,
wherein said connector system may be used in the testing of a LAN component having either said first connector type or said second connector type.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.