# US 7,411,948 B2 · Ethernet switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,411,948 B2 - Document ID: US7411948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/682,883 - Filed: 2001-10-29 - Published: 2003-05-01 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2001-10-29 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Phillip A. Danner; William B. Estep; Paul D. Scanlon; Robert A. Rucinski; Robert A. McKeel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7411948B2 ## CPC - H04L 43/00: Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks - H04L 49/351: for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches - H04L 43/12: Network monitoring probes - H04L 49/205: {Quality of Service based} - H04L 49/354: for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An Ethernet switch includes a plurality of ports, and the switch is configured to be operable within a temperature range of at least between approximately 0° C. and approximately 60° C. The switch is further configured to be operable within a non-condensing humidity range of at least between approximately 10% and approximately 95%. Also, the switch is configured to support at least one of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a Quality of Service (QoS), a Remote Monitoring (RMON), and a Spanning Tree. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An Ethernet switch for use in a non-office environment, said Ethernet switch comprising: a plurality of ports, said switch configured to operate within a temperature range of at least between approximately 0° C. and approximately 60° C., said switch further configured to operate within a non-condensing humidity range of at least between approximately 10% and approximately 95%, said switch further configured to operate under an extended vibration of at least 2g (gravity), said switch further configured to support at least one of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a Quality of Service (QoS), a Remote Monitoring (RMON), and a Spanning Tree, wherein said switch automatically configures the VLAN by operating within the temperature range, and wherein said switch is further configured to transfer data between a plurality of devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A switch in accordance with claim 1 further configured to be stackable with a second switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A switch in accordance with claim 1 further configured to transmit data at a speed of at least one Gigabyte per second. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A switch in accordance with claim 1 further configured to operate substantially at wire speed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A switch in accordance with claim 1 further configured to operate under a shock vibration of at least 4g. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A switch in accordance with claim 1 further configured to support a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A switch in accordance with claim 6 further configured to: be stackable with a second switch; and operate under a shock vibration of at least 4g. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A switch in accordance with claim 7 further configured to operate substantially at wire speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A switch in accordance with claim 8 further configured to transmit data at a speed of at least one Gigabyte per second. ### Claim 10 An Ethernet switch for use in a non-office environment, said Ethernet switch comprising: a plurality of ports, said switch configured to: support a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a Quality of Service (QoS), a Remote Monitoring (RMON), and a Spanning Tree; transmit data at a speed of at least one Gigabyte per second; operate within a temperature range of at least between approximately 0° C. and approximately 60° C., wherein said switch is further configured to transfer data between a plurality of devices; operate within a non-condensing humidity range of at least between approximately 10% and approximately 95%; be stackable with a second switch; and operate under an extended vibration of at least 2g (gravity). ### Claim 11 An Ethernet network comprising: a first switch configured to be used in a non-office environment; a second switch operationally coupled to said first switch, said second switch and said first switch configured to cooperatively operate as one combined switch; and a plurality of user devices operationally coupled to said combined switch such that said combined switch transfers data from at least one of said plurality of user devices to a different one of said plurality of user devices, said first switch and said second switch configured to: operate within a temperature range of at least between approximately 0° C. and approximately 60° C.; operate within a non-condensing humidity range of at least between approximately 10% and approximately 95%; and support at least one of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), a Quality of Service (QoS), a Remote Monitoring (RMON), and a Spanning Tree, wherein said combined switch automatically configures the VLAN by operating within the temperature range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A network in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first switch further configured to transmit data at a speed of at least one Gigabyte per second. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A network in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first switch further configured to operate under an extended vibration of at least 2g (gravity). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A network in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first switch further configured to operate under a shock vibration of at least 4g. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A network in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first switch further configured to: be stackable with said second switch; operate under an extended vibration of at least 2g (gravity); and operate under a shock vibration of at least 4g. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A network in accordance with claim 15 wherein said first switch further configured to operate substantially at wire speed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A network in accordance with claim 16 wherein said first switch further configured to transmit data at a speed of at least one Gigabyte per second.