Method and apparatus which allows devices with multiple protocol capabilities to configure to a common protocol configuration

An apparatus for matching a transmission protocol of a first station of a point-to-point data communication network to a transmission protocol of a second station of the network, comprising:

• protocol detecting means associated with the first station for detecting an advertised available protocol from the second station that indicates a protocol in which the second station is capable of operating;
• protocol comparing means associated with the first station for comparing the indicated protocol of the second station to a protocol in which the first station is capable of operating;
• priority determining means for determining, when the result of the protocol comparison is negative, which of the first station and the second station is a higher priority station for protocol negotiation;
• protocol advertising means associated with the first station for advertising, to the second station, a protocol of the first station;
• advertised protocol changing means associated with the first station for changing the advertised protocol of the first station when the priority determining means determines that the first station is the higher priority station for protocol negotiation;
• and
• waiting means for waiting for an indication of a change in condition of the second station when the priority determining means determines that the second station is the higher priority station for protocol negotiation.