EP0567342A2 — Signal interface for coupling a network front end…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 123 words

A signal interface for coupling a network front end circuit to a network adapter circuit, wherein the network front end circuit communicates with a network, comprising: a plurality of input signal lines, each operable to conduct an input signal from the network front end circuit to the network adapter circuit; and a plurality of output signal lines, each operable to conduct an output signal from the network adapter circuit to the network front end circuit, wherein selected ones of said input and output signal lines are functional to support both a first and second network protocol on the same line, and wherein only input signals are input on said selected input lines and only output signals are output on said selected output lines.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 123 words

A signal interface for coupling a network front end circuit to a network adapter circuit, wherein the network front end circuit communicates with a network, comprising: a plurality of input signal lines, each operable to conduct an input signal from the network front end circuit to the network adapter circuit; and a plurality of output signal lines, each operable to conduct an output signal from the network adapter circuit to the network front end circuit, wherein selected ones of said input and output signal lines are functional to support both a first and second network protocol on the same line, and wherein only input signals are input on said selected input lines and only output signals are output on said selected output lines.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 93 words

The interface of claim 1, wherein one of said selected output signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by indicating to the network front end circuitthatdata transmitted from the networkadap- ter circuit to the network front end circuit should be returned to the network adapter circuit without transmitting the data to the network, and is operable to support said second network protocol by indicating to the network front end circuit that data transmitted from the network adapter circuit to the network front end circuit should be transmitted to the network.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 95 words

The interface of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of said selected output signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by indicating to the network front end circuit that the network adapter circuit is currently operable to be actively coupled from communication to the network, and is operable to support said second network protocol by indicating to the network front end circuit that data transmitted from the network adapter circuit to the network front end circuit should be returned to the network adapter circuit without transmitting the data to the network.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 101 words

The interface of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the network front end circuit comprises a phase lock loop operable in a first mode to synchronize with a signal on the network, and wherein one of said selected output signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by indicating to the network front end circuit that said phase lock loop should synchronize with a clock signal provided by said network adapter circuit rather than said signal on the network, and is operable to support said second network protocol by providing data to the network front end circuit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

The interface of any preceding claim, wherein one of said selected input signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by receiving a crystal clock signal, and is operable to support said second network protocol by receiving a crystal clock signal for synchronizing the transmission rate of data transmission from the network adapter circuit to the network front end circuit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

The interface of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of said selected input signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by receiving a signal representing an error of operation on the network, and is operable to support said second network protocol by receiving a signal representing a collision of data has occurred on the network.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 67 words

The interface of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of said selected input signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by receiving a signal representing that the front end circuit has synchronized its operation with a crystal clock, and is operable to support said second network protocol by receiving a signal representing that the front end circuit has received a carrier signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

The interface of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of said selected input signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by receiving data from the network front end circuit, and is operable to support said second network protocol by receiving data from the network front end circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 72 words

The interface of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of said selected input signal lines is operable to support said first network protocol by receiving a clock signal representative of the rate data will be received from the network front end circuit, and is operable to support said second network protocol by receiving a clock signal representative of the rate data will be received from the network front end circuit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 149 words

A local area network adaptive circuit for coupling a host device to a network front end circuit which communicates information to/from a network, comprising: an internal bus; a first bus operable to communicate with a bus of the host device and with said internal bus; a second bus operable to communicate with a bus of the front end circuit and with said internal bus; a protocol handler operable to communicate with said first, second and internal buses for communicating with either a token ring or an ethernet protocol in a token ring or protocol mode, respectively; and a configuration input pin for receiving a signal indicating a first and second state, wherein a first state indication configures the local area network adaptive circuit to operate in a token ring protocol and wherein a second state indication configures the local area network adaptive circuit to operate in an ethernet protocol.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 149 words

A local area network adaptive circuit for coupling a host device to a network front end circuit which communicates information to/from a network, comprising: an internal bus; a first bus operable to communicate with a bus of the host device and with said internal bus; a second bus operable to communicate with a bus of the front end circuit and with said internal bus; a protocol handler operable to communicate with said first, second and internal buses for communicating with either a token ring or an ethernet protocol in a token ring or protocol mode, respectively; and a configuration input pin for receiving a signal indicating a first and second state, wherein a first state indication configures the local area network adaptive circuit to operate in a token ring protocol and wherein a second state indication configures the local area network adaptive circuit to operate in an ethernet protocol.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of claim 10, wherein said configuration input pin comprises a first configuration input pin, and further comprising a second configuration input pin for receiving a signal indicating a first and second network speed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of claim 10, wherein said configuration input pin comprises a first configuration input pin, and further comprising a second configuration input pin for receiving a signal indicating a first token ring network speed of 4 Mbit/second or a second token ring network speed of 16 Mbit/second.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 54 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of claim 10, claim 11 or claim 12 and further comprising a register accessible by the host device for providing a network protocol selection indication, wherein said network protocol selection indication indicates that the host is requesting to communicate with either a token ring or an ethernet protocol.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of claim 13 and further comprising an output pin coupled to said register, wherein said output pin is operable to output a signal indicating that the host is requesting to communicate with either a token ring or an ethernet protocol.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of any of claims 10 to 14 and further comprising a system interface coupled to said internal bus and to said first bus, and for interfacing the adaptive circuit to the host device.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of claim 15, wherein said system interface is further operable to control direct memory access between said host and said adaptive circuit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of any of claims 10 to 16 and further comprising a communications processor coupled to said internal bus and for responding to interrupt signals received from the host device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of any of claims 10 to 17 and further comprising a memory interface coupled to said internal bus and for controlling and arbiting said internal bus.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The local area network adaptive circuit of any of claims 10 to 18 and further comprising a memory interface coupled to said internal bus and for controlling and arbiting said internal bus.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 79 words

An interface device for coupling a host device having a network interface to a computer network having a predetermined communications medium and a predetermined communications physical layer, comprising: a plug member; a first connector affixed to said plug member for coupling to the network interface of the host device; and front end circuitry disposed within said plug member, said front end circuitry being selectable to couple to the predetermined communications medium and to interact with the predetermined physical layer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 79 words

An interface device for coupling a host device having a network interface to a computer network having a predetermined communications medium and a predetermined communications physical layer, comprising: a plug member; a first connector affixed to said plug member for coupling to the network interface of the host device; and front end circuitry disposed within said plug member, said front end circuitry being selectable to couple to the predetermined communications medium and to interact with the predetermined physical layer.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The interface device of claim 20, wherein said front end circuitry is directly connected to the predetermined communications medium.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 52 words

The interface device of claim 20 and further comprising a second connector coupled to said front end circuitry, and mateable with a third connector coupled to said communications medium such that said second and third connectors may be physically connected for communication between said front end circuitry and the predetermined communications medium.

Signal interface for coupling a network front end circuit to a network adapter circuit

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