Selectable repeater port reconnection method and apparatus

A partitioning selection and reconnection process for a repeater having a plurality of ports, comprising the steps of:

• providing the repeater with a first and a second reconnection procedure, said first reconnection procedure reconnecting a partitioned port if said partitioned port receives or transmits collision-free for a predetermined time period and said second reconnection procedure reconnecting a partitioned port only if said partitioned port transmits collision-free for a predetermined time period;
• selecting a particular one reconnection procedure of said first and second reconnection procedures for a particular port;
• detecting excessive collision activity for said particular port;
• partitioning said particular port;
• checking for a lack of collisions during a particular type of port activity appropriate for said particular one reconnection procedure;
• and
• reconnecting said particular port upon satisfaction of said selected particular one reconnection procedure.

A repeater for a network, comprising:

• a data port, for transmitting and receiving data packets;
• means, coupled to said data port, for detecting excessive collision activity;
• means, coupled to said detecting means, for partitioning said data port upon detection of excessive collision activity to form a partitioned data port;
• means, coupled to said detecting means, for checking for an absence of a data collision only during transmissions from said partitioned data port;
• and
• means, coupled to said detecting means, for reconnecting said partitioned data port when said partitioned data port transmits collision-free for a predetermined time period.

A method for reconnecting a partitioned repeater port, comprising the steps of:

• equipping a repeater with a set of reconnection procedures wherein said set of reconnection procedures includes a first and a second reconnection procedure;
• selecting a particular one reconnection procedure from said set of reconnection procedures for a particular partitioned port of the repeater;
• checking said particular partitioned port for an absence of collisions during port activity of said particular partitioned port;
• and
• reconnecting said particular partitioned port by use of said particular one reconnection procedure.

A method for reconnecting a partitioned port of a repeater having a plurality of ports, comprising the steps of:

• providing a set of reconnection procedures for the repeater wherein said set of reconnection procedures includes a first and a second reconnection procedure;
• selecting a particular one reconnection procedure from said set of reconnection procedures for the partitioned port;
• checking for an absence of a data collision relative to the partitioned port during both transmission and reception activity of the partitioned port;
• and
• reconnecting the partitioned port when said particular one reconnection procedure is satisfied.

A network system, comprising:

• a first node, for transmitting a first data packet;
• a second node, for receiving said first data packet;
• a repeater, coupled to said first node and said second node, for transmitting said first data packet from said first node to said second node, said repeater coupled to said first node at a data port, the repeater comprising:
• a detector, coupled to said data port, for detecting excessive collision activity;
• a partition circuit, coupled to said detector circuit, for partitioning said data port upon detection of excessive collision activity in said first node, to form a partitioned data port;
• a checking circuit, coupled to said detector, for checking for an absence of data collisions during only transmissions from said partitioned data port;
• and
• a reconnection circuit, coupled to said detector, for reconnecting said partitioned data port when said partitioned data port transmits collision-free for a predetermined time period.