Token ring local area network testing apparatus for matching its speed to ring speed

Claim 3

A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modifying step includes changing a control bit in a control register when said timer has exceeded said predetermined time interval before said predetermined count is reached.

Claim 4

A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said changing step includes applying an output related to said control bit to change the rate at which said testing apparatus is able to send data around the token ring.

Claim 5

A testing apparatus for modifying the rate at which data is repeated around a token ring local area network, comprising: first means for receiving information from a token ring at a first rate; second means responsive to said first means for ascertaining whether an acceptable event has occurred, said acceptable event including receipt of a valid data stream by said testing apparatus, said valid data stream included in one of a token and a frame; third means for counting each time said acceptable event occurs; fourth means for monitoring passage of a predetermined time interval, said fourth means being reset before said third means begins counting a first plurality of said acceptable events, said predetermined time interval being less than a time that causes a beacon state to occur in the token ring; fifth means for determining whether a predetermined count has been counted by said third means indicative that a predetermined number of acceptable events has occurred, before said timer has reached said predetermined time interval, with said predetermined count being greater than one; and sixth means for modifying a rate at which said testing apparatus sends data when said predetermined time interval is exceeded before said predetermined count is reached.

Claim 6

A testing apparatus for modifying the rate at which data is repeated around a token ring local area network, comprising: first means for receiving information from a token ring at a first rate; second means responsive to said first means for ascertaining whether an acceptable event has occurred, said acceptable event including receipt of a valid data stream by said testing apparatus, said valid data stream included in one of a token and a frame; third means for counting each time said acceptable event occurs; fourth means for monitoring passage of a predetermined time interval, said fourth means being reset before said third means begins counting a first plurality of said acceptable events, said predetermined time interval being less than a time that causes a beacon state to occur in the token ring; fifth means for determining whether a predetermined count has been counted by said third means indicative that a predetermined number of acceptable events has occurred, before said timer has reached said predetermined time interval, with said predetermined count being greater than one; and sixth means for modifying a rate at which said testing apparatus sends data when said predetermined time interval is exceeded before said predetermined count is reached.

Claim 7

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said first means includes a second clock signal having a second frequency that is selectable for sending information around the token ring at a second rate when said first rate does not correspond to the predetermined rate for the token ring.

Claim 8

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said predetermined time interval relates to a time interval required to transmit a frame around the token ring.

Claim 9

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said second means includes a field programmable gate array for checking whether said valid data stream has been received.

Claim 10

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said field programmable gate array includes a state machine for detecting said valid data stream in generating a control signal.

Claim 11

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said second means includes processing means communicating with said third means for receiving an input therefrom indicative of whether said valid data stream was received by said field programmable gate array and in which said processing means determines whether said third means has reached a predetermined count.

Claim 12

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said sixth means includes control register means communicating with said fifth means including a control bit having a state related to a selection of a clock signal.

Claim 13

An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said fifth means includes processing means communicating with said control register means with said processing means causing a change instate of said control bit when said predetermined time interval is exceeded before said predetermined count is reached.