Token ring network test device using finite state machine

Claim 2

A test device for identifying one of a plurality of error types in a token-ring local area network, wherein said token-ring local area network has at least one network computer station attached thereto, and further wherein said at least one network computer station may send a plurality of frames, each frame being one of several types of frames, through said token-ring local area network, said test device comprising: interface means for connecting said test device to said token-ring local area network and for receiving a plurality of frames sent by said at least one network computer station; means for storing said plurality of received frames from said interface means into a memory contained within said test device; means connected to said memory means for examining said received frames, and for displaying a first error type, on a display device connected to said test device, when a first beacon type of frame is received; first counter means connected to said memory means for counting beacon frames received; means connected to said first counter means for displaying a second error type, on said display device, when said first counter means exceeds a predetermined first count; and means connected to said first counter means for displaying a third error type, on said display device, when said first counter exceeds a second predetermined count.

Claim 3

A test device for identifying one of a plurality of error states in a token-ring local area network, wherein said token-ring local area network has at least one network computer station attached thereto, and further wherein said at least one network computer station may send a plurality of frames, each frame being one of several types of frames, through said token-ring local area network, said test device comprising: network interface means for connecting said test device to said token-ring local area network and for receiving a plurality of frames sent by said at least one network computer station; means for storing said plurality of received frames from said connecting means into a memory contained within said test device; counter means connected to said memory means for examining said received frames, and for displaying a beacon error state, on a display device connected to said test device, when a first beacon type of frame is received; counter means connected to said memory means for counting beacon frames received; means connected to said counter means for displaying a beaconing error state, on said display device, when said counter means exceeds seven; means connected to said counter means for displaying a streaming beacons error state, on said display device, when said counter exceeds twenty; timer means, connected to said network interface means, for timing a duration of receiving beacon frames; and means connected to said timer means for displaying, on said display device, a catastrophic error state when said timer means exceeds twenty six seconds of time.

Claim 4

A test device for identifying one of a plurality of error states in a token-ring local area network, wherein said token-ring local area network has at least one network computer station attached thereto, and further wherein said at least one network computer station may send a plurality of frames, each frame being one of several types of frames, through said token-ring local area network, said test device comprising: network interface means for connecting said test device to said token-ring local area network and for receiving a plurality of frames sent by said at least one network computer station; means for storing said plurality of received frames from said connecting means into a memory contained within said test device; counter means connected to said memory means for examining said received frames, and for displaying a beacon error state, on a display device connected to said test device, when a first beacon type of frame is received; counter means connected to said memory means for counting beacon frames received; means connected to said counter means for displaying a beaconing error state, on said display device, when said counter means exceeds seven; means connected to said counter means for displaying a streaming beacons error state, on said display device, when said counter exceeds twenty; timer means, connected to said network interface means, for timing a duration of receiving beacon frames; and means connected to said timer means for displaying, on said display device, a catastrophic error state when said timer means exceeds twenty six seconds of time.

Claim 5

A computer implemented process for identifying one of a plurality of error states in a token-ring local area network, wherein said token-ring local area network has at least one network computer station attached thereto, and further wherein said at least one network computer station may send a plurality of frames, each frame being one of several types of frames, through said token-ring local area network, said computer implemented process comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of frames, sent by said at least one network computer station, into a token-ring local area network interface device contained within a computer that implements said computer implemented process; (b) storing said plurality of received frames from said interface device into a memory of said computer; (c) examining said received frames and displaying an error state, on a display device connected to said computer, when a first beacon type of frame is received; (d) counting beacon type frames received by said interface device; (e) displaying a second error state on said display device when a count of beacon type frames exceeds a predetermined first count; (f) displaying a third error state on said display device when said count of beacon type frames exceeds a second predetermined count; (g) timing a duration of receiving beacon type frames; and (h) displaying on said display device a fourth error state when an amount of time that beacon type frames have been received means exceeds a predetermined time.

Claim 6

A computer implemented process for identifying one of a plurality of error states in a token-ring local area network, wherein said token-ring local area network has at least one network computer station attached thereto, and further wherein said at least one network computer station may send a plurality of frames, each frame being one of several types of frames, through said token-ring local area network, said computer implemented process comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of frames, sent by said at least one network computer station, into a token-ring local area network interface device contained within a computer that implements said computer implemented process; (b) storing said plurality of received frames from said interface device into a memory of said computer; (c) examining said received frames and displaying an error state, on a display device connected to said computer, when a first beacon type of frame is received; (d) counting beacon type frames received by said interface device; (e) displaying a second error state on said display device when a count of beacon type frames exceeds a predetermined first count; (f) displaying a third error state on said display device when said count of beacon type frames exceeds a second predetermined count; (g) timing a duration of receiving beacon type frames; and (h) displaying on said display device a fourth error state when an amount of time that beacon type frames have been received means exceeds a predetermined time.