Ethernet Y-cables and Y-switches
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsChris Higgins, Edward L. Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ethernet Y-cables are provided that include first, second and third Ethernet cable segments, each of which has a first end and a second end and at least eight insulated conductors. These cables further include a housing that receives the respective first ends of the first, second and third Ethernet cable segments and a switching mechanism that is disposed at least partly in the housing. The switching mechanism is configured to selectively connect the at least eight conductors of the first Ethernet cable segment to respective ones of either the at least eight conductors of the second Ethernet cable segment or the at least eight conductors of the third Ethernet cable segment. Related Ethernet Y-switches and methods of using the Ethernet Y-cables and Y-switches are also provided.
Claims21
An Ethernet cable, comprising:
- a first Ethernet cable segment of the Ethernet cable having a first end and a second end and at least eight insulated conductors;
- a second Ethernet cable segment of the Ethernet cable having a first end and a second end and at least eight insulated conductors;
- a third Ethernet cable segment of the Ethernet cable having a first end and a second end and at least eight insulated conductors;
- a housing of the Ethernet cable that receives the respective first ends of the first, second and third Ethernet cable segments;
- a sensor disposed in the Ethernet cable that is configured to determine if a failure has occurred in a two-way communications link through the second Ethernet cable segment;
- and
- a switching mechanism that is disposed at least partly in the housing of the Ethernet cable, the switching mechanism being configured to selectively connect the at least eight conductors of the first Ethernet cable segment to respective ones of either the at least eight conductors of the second Ethernet cable segment or the at least eight conductors of the third Ethernet cable segment,
- wherein the switching mechanism is configured to automatically break connections between the at least eight conductors of the first Ethernet cable segment and respective ones of the at least eight conductors of the second Ethernet cable and to connect the at least eight conductors of the first Ethernet cable segment to respective ones of the at least eight conductors of the third Ethernet cable segment in response to the sensor determining that the failure has occurred in the two-way communications link through the second Ethernet cable segment.
A method of selectively coupling a host device connector port to a first connector port on a first network switch and a second connector port on a second network switch, the method comprising:
- transmitting data, by an Ethernet cable apparatus, from the host device to the first connector port on the first network switch, wherein the Ethernet cable apparatus is coupled to the host device and the first connector port;
- automatically sensing, by the Ethernet cable apparatus, that a link between the host device connector port and the first connector port on the first network switch has been disrupted;
- and
- automatically activating, by the Ethernet cable apparatus, a switching mechanism of the Ethernet cable apparatus that is disposed between the host device connector port and the first connector port on the first network switch that connects at least four conductive paths of the host device connector port to respective ones of at least four insulated conductors of a first Ethernet cable segment of the Ethernet cable apparatus that is disposed between the switch and the second connector port on the second network switch, wherein the switching mechanism is disposed on a printed circuit board.
A plug-lack connector, comprising:
- a housing of the plug-jack connector having a plug end that includes a first plug that is configured to mate with a connector port of an end-device and a jack end that includes a first jack and a second jack, the first jack configured to receive a plug of a first patch cord and the second jack configured to receive a plug of a second patch cord;
- and
- a switching mechanism of the plug-jack connector that selectively connects at least four plug blades of the first plug to corresponding contacts of the first jack or to corresponding contacts of the second jack in response to at least one switching control signal, wherein the switching mechanism is implemented on a printed circuit board,
- wherein the at least one switching control signal is generated by a sensing circuit that is mounted within the housing.
An Ethernet cable, comprising:
- a first Ethernet cable segment having a first end and a second end and at least four insulated conductors;
- a second Ethernet cable segment having a first end and a second end and at least four insulated conductors;
- a third Ethernet cable segment having a first end and a second end and at least four insulated conductors;
- a housing of the Ethernet cable that receives the respective first ends of the first, second and third Ethernet cable segments;
- and
- a switching mechanism of the Ethernet cable that is disposed at least partly in the housing of the Ethernet cable, the switching mechanism being configured to selectively connect the at least four conductors of the first Ethernet cable segment to respective ones of either the at least four conductors of the second Ethernet cable segment or the at least four conductors of the third Ethernet cable segment, wherein the switching mechanism is implemented on a printed circuit board,
- a sensor disposed at least partly in the housing of the Ethernet cable segment, the sensor being configured to determine if a failure has occurred in a communications link through the second Ethernet cable segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.