Network link endpoint capability detection

In a data communication network comprising a hub coupled to at least one node, an apparatus for establishing communication between the hub and a node comprising:

• a hub transmitter coupled to the hub for transmitting a hub protocol signal to the node, the hub protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, with which the hub is capable of communicating;
• a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the node receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the node is capable of communicating;
• and
• a node transmitter coupled to the protocol identifying circuit for transmitting a node protocol signal, including a format for a data transmission, to the hub indicating that communication between the hub and the node will take place with the protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal.

In a data communication network comprising a hub coupled to at least one node, an apparatus for establishing communication between the hub and a node comprising:

• a hub transmitter coupled to the hub for transmitting a hub protocol signal to the node, the hub protocol signal indicating one of a plurality of communication protocols, including a format for a data transmission, with which the hub is capable of communicating;
• a node receiver coupled to the node for receiving the hub protocol signal;
• a first protocol identifying circuit coupled to the node receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the node is capable of communicating;
• a node transmitter coupled to the node receiver for transmitting a node protocol signal to the hub, the node protocol signal indicating the communication protocol, including a format for a data transmission, indicated by the hub protocol signal if the communication protocol indicated by the hub protocol signal is a communication protocol with which the node is capable of communicating;
• a hub receiver coupled to the hub for receiving the node protocol signal;
• a second protocol identifying circuit coupled to the hub receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal from among a plurality of communication protocols with which the hub is capable of communicating;
• wherein the hub transmitter includes a communication circuit for communicating with the node using the communication protocol indicated by the node protocol signal in response thereto.

In a data communication network comprising at least first and second communication endpoints, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising:

• a first endpoint transmitter coupled to the first endpoint for transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
• a second endpoint receiver coupled to the second endpoint for receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
• a second endpoint transmitter coupled to the second endpoint receiver for transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
• a first endpoint receiver coupled to the first endpoint for receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
• a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the first endpoint receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
• and
• a communication circuit in said first endpoint transmitter responsive to said protocol identifying circuit for communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal.

In a data communication network comprising at least first and second communication endpoints, an apparatus for establishing communication between the first and second endpoints comprising:

• a first endpoint transmitter coupled to the first endpoint for transmitting a first endpoint protocol signal to the second endpoint, the first endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission, with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
• a second endpoint receiver coupled to the second endpoint for receiving the first endpoint protocol signal;
• a second endpoint transmitter coupled to the second endpoint receiver for transmitting a second endpoint protocol signal, responsive to receipt of said said first endpoint protocol signal, to the first endpoint, the second endpoint protocol signal indicating a communication protocol, including a format for data transmission with which the second endpoint is capable of communicating;
• a first endpoint receiver coupled to the first endpoint for receiving the second endpoint protocol signal;
• a protocol identifying circuit coupled to the first endpoint receiver for identifying the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal from among a plurality of possible communication protocols with which the first endpoint is capable of communicating;
• and
• a communication circuit in said first endpoint transmitter responsive to said protocol identifying circuit for communicating with the second endpoint using the communication protocol indicated by the second endpoint protocol signal.