# US 9,438,453 B2 · Method and circuit for establishing network connection

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- Number: US 9,438,453 B2
- Document ID: US9438453B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/812,233
- Filed: 2015-07-29
- Published: 2016-03-03
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-28
- Assignees: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
- Applicants: Realtek Semiconductor Corporation
- Inventors: Sheng-Fu Chuang; Liang-Wei Huang; Ching-Yao Su; Hsuan-Ting Ho
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438453B2

## CPC

- H04L 25/4919: {using balanced multilevel codes (H04L25/4927 takes precedence)}
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

The present invention discloses a network connection establishing method capable of preventing a link procedure from being strangled in a training state. An embodiment of the method comprises: a preceding step; a training step; and a following step. Said training step includes at least one of the following: counting a number, and returning to the preceding step if a local receiver is not yet ready after finishing counting the number; detecting a reception signal according to a signal detection level, and returning to the preceding step when none of the reception signal is detected; determining a number of level(s) of the reception signal, and returning to the preceding step if the number of level(s) is less than an expected level number; and comparing a signal-to-noise ratio of the reception signal with a signal-to-noise threshold, and returning to the preceding step when the signal-to-noise ratio fails to satisfy the signal-to-noise threshold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit for establishing network connection, capable of preventing a link procedure from being strangled in a training state, comprising a physical layer circuit (PHY), a counting unit operable to count a number during the training state and make the PHY return to a Slave Silent step of BroadR-Reach technology if a local receiver is not ready after finishing counting the number, and all of the following units:
a detecting unit operable to detect a reception signal according to a signal detection level during the training state, and make the PHY return to the Slave Silent step if none of the reception signal is detected;
a determining unit operable to determine a number of level(s) of the reception signal during the training state, and make the PHY return to the Slave Silent step if the number of level(s) is less than an expected level number; and
a comparing unit operable to compare a signal-to-noise ratio of the reception signal with a signal-to-noise threshold during the training state, and make the PHY return to the Slave Silent step if the signal-to-noise ratio fails to satisfy the signal-to-noise threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 1, wherein the counting unit, the detecting unit, the determining unit and the comparing unit pertain to the PHY.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 1, further comprising:
a digital gain control unit operable to prevent a digital gain from being zero.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is operable to detect the reception signal according to a plurality of analog-to-digital converted output values and the signal detection level.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 1, wherein the expected level number is 3.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 1, wherein the signal-to-noise threshold is between ten and nineteen.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 4, wherein the detecting unit is operable to detect the reception signal according to the sum or average of the analog-to-digital converted output values and the signal detection level.

### Claim 8

A circuit for establishing network connection, capable of preventing a link procedure from being strangled in a training state, comprising a physical layer circuit (PHY) and all of the following units:
a counting unit operable to count a number during the training state, and make the PHY return to a preceding step if a local receiver is not ready after finishing counting the number;
a detecting unit operable to detect a reception signal according to a signal detection level during the training state, and make the PHY return to the preceding step if none of the reception signal is detected;
a determining unit operable to determine a number of level(s) of the reception signal during the training state, and make the PHY return to the preceding step if the number of level(s) is less than an expected level number; and
a comparing unit operable to compare a signal-to-noise ratio of the reception signal with a signal-to-noise threshold during the training state, and make the PHY return to the preceding step if the signal-to-noise ratio fails to satisfy the signal-to-noise threshold.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 8, further comprising: a digital gain control unit operable to prevent a digital gain from being zero.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The circuit for establishing network connection of claim 8, wherein the detecting unit is operable to detect the reception signal according to the sum or average of a plurality of analog-to-digital converted output values and the signal detection level.