Automatic protocol selection mechanism
AssigneeLevel One Communications, Inc.
InventorsMark T. Feuerstraeter, Kirk Hayden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network device automatically detects the best protocol a network will support. The network device includes a driver for transmitting data, a receiver for receiving data, and a port operationally coupled to the driver and receiver. The network device further includes negotiation logic coupled to the driver and receiver for selecting a protocol in coordination with other network devices. The network device further includes error detection logic and backs down to a lower transmission rate if errors are detected after the initial negotiation of the selected protocol.
Claims17
A device for communicating on a network comprising:
- a driver for transmitting data;
- a receiver for receiving data;
- a port coupled to the driver and to the receiver for communicating on a network;
- negotiation logic coupled to the driver and receiver for selecting a first protocol on the network;
- error detection logic coupled to the port for detecting an error count wherein the error count is generated based upon data received by the port and upon the first protocol and wherein the data received by the port was transmitted under the first protocol;
- a protocol controller coupled to the negotiation logic and to the error detection logic wherein the error count triggers the protocol controller to instruct the negotiation logic to initiate data transmission under a second protocol on the network;
- and
- an indicator for displaying a cable rate limitation.
A protocol selector for selecting the protocol of a network device having a port connected to a network, wherein the protocol selector comprises:
- a negotiation controller coupled to a port for negotiating a first protocol;
- a detector coupled to the port for detecting an error count wherein the error count is based upon data received by the port and upon the first protocol and wherein data received by the port was transmitted under the first protocol;
- a rate controller coupled to the negotiation controller and the detector wherein the rate controller causes the negotiation controller to negotiate a second protocol when the error count exceeds a threshold level;
- and
- an indicator for a displaying a cable rate limitation.
A device for communicating on a network comprising:
- a driver for transmitting data;
- a receiver for receiving data;
- a port coupled to the driver and to the receiver for communicating on a network;
- negotiation logic coupled to the driver and receiver for selecting a first protocol on the network;
- error detection logic coupled to the port for detecting an error count;
- a protocol controller coupled to the negotiation logic and to the error detection logic wherein the error count triggers the protocol controller to cause a second protocol;
- and
- an indicator for displaying an active protocol.
A protocol selector for selecting the protocol of a network device having a port connected to a network, wherein the protocol selector comprises:
- a negotiation controller coupled to a port for negotiating a first protocol;
- a detector coupled to the port for detecting an error count;
- a rate controller coupled to the negotiation controller and the detector wherein the rate controller causes the negotiation controller to negotiate a second protocol when the error count exceeds a threshold level;
- and
- an indicator for displaying an active protocol.
A protocol selector for selecting the protocol of a network device having a port connected to a network, wherein the protocol selector comprises:
- a negotiation controller coupled to a port for negotiating a first protocol;
- a detector coupled to the port for detecting an error count;
- a rate controller coupled to the negotiation controller and the detector wherein the rate controller causes the negotiation controller to negotiate a second protocol when the error count exceeds a threshold level;
- and
- an indicator for displaying a cable rate limitation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.