Method and apparatus for automatic configuration of a network connection

A method of configuring a network connection comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a first transmitted network status signal over a first unidirectional communication path, said first transmitted network status signal for signalling a node;
• monitoring a second unidirectional communication path for a received network status signal;
• transmitting a second transmitted network status signal over said second unidirectional communication path, said second transmitted network status signal for signalling said node;
• monitoring said first unidirectional communication path for said received network status signal;
• transmitting a third transmitted network status signal over said second unidirectional communication path after receiving said received network status signal over said first unidirectional communication path, said third transmitted network signal indicating successful negotiation of directional orientation of said first unidirectional communication path and said second unidirectional communication path.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first twisted pair communication line;
• a second twisted pair communication line;
• a first network node coupled to said first and second twisted pair communication lines;
• and
• a second network node coupled to said first and second twisted pair communication lines, said second network node comprising:
• selecting means for alternately selecting said first twisted pair communication line as a transmit path and said second twisted pair communication line as a receive path during a first mode and said first twisted pair communication line as a receive path and said second twisted pair communication line as a transmit path during a second mode;
• link integrity pulse generating means coupled to said selecting means for generating link integrity pulses and for transmitting said link integrity pulses over said transmit path to said first network node;
• sensing means coupled to said selecting means for sensing incoming link integrity pulses from said first network node on said receive path and for stopping selecting means from alternating between said first and second modes after said incoming link integrity pulses are sensed on said receive path;
• transmitting means coupled to said selecting means for transmitting data to said first network node over said transmit path;
• and
• receiving means coupled to said selecting means for receiving data from said first network node over said receive path.

Apparatus comprising:

• a network;
• a first communication path coupled to said network;
• a second communication path coupled to said network;
• a device;
• a third communication path coupled to said device;
• a fourth communication path coupled to said device;
• selecting means selectably coupled to said first communication path, said second communication path, said third communication path, and said fourth communication path for monitoring said first communication path and said second communication path for a received network status signal received from said network and for coupling said first communication path to said third communication path and said second communication path to said fourth communication path when a network status signal is received by said selecting means from said network over said second communication path, and for coupling said first communication path to said fourth communication path and said second communication path to said third communication path when a network status signal is received by said selecting means from said network over said first communication path.