US5504738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for full-duplex ethernet communications
Assignee: LSI Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-15
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2014-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A downward compatible full-duplex 10Base-T ethernet transceiver associated with both the hub or the remote node in an ethernet network includes generator circuitry for generating a full-duplex-capability signal indicating its full-duplex capability for transmission over the twisted pair link and detector circuitry for detecting transmission of such a signal from the transceiver with which it is communicating across the twisted pair link. The detector circuitry responds to the full-duplex-capability signal by sending a full-duplex enable signal to an ethernet controller configured according to the present invention. An ethernet controller contains circuitry responsive to the full-duplex-enable signal to disable transmission deferral in response to a carrier-sense signal generated by the transceiver. The full-duplex-capability indicator portion may comprise an extra pulse following an Nth link-integrity pulse after a delay of between about 2-7 μsec.
Inventors
- 👤 Namakkal S. Sambamurthy
- 👤 Woo-Ping Lai
- 👤 John P. VanGilder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/4013; H04L12/40136; H04L12/407; H04L12/413; H04L12/44; H04L12/40006; H04L12/40013; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/908; Y10S370/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of implementing communication between a first node coupled to an ethernet transceiver and a second node coupled to said ethernet transceiver, said method comprising transmitting, from said first node, a link-integrity signal having a capability-indicator portion indicating a communication capability available at said first node, said capability-indicator portion being downward compatible with a half-duplex 10Base-T capability of said ethernet transceiver; receiving said link-integrity signal at said second node; detecting said capability-indicator portion of said link-integrity signal at said second node; and transmitting, from said second node, a capability signal responsive to said capability-indicator portion of said link-integrity signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of implementing communication between a first node coupled to an ethernet transceiver and a second node coupled to said ethernet transceiver, said method comprising transmitting, from said first node, a link-integrity signal having a capability-indicator portion indicating a communication capability available at said first node, said capability-indicator portion being downward compatible with a half-duplex 10Base-T capability of said ethernet transceiver; receiving said link-integrity signal at said second node; detecting said capability-indicator portion of said link-integrity signal at said second node; and transmitting, from said second node, a capability signal responsive to said capability-indicator portion of said link-integrity signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said capability-indicator portion comprises an indicator of a protocol capability of said first node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein said protocol capability comprises capability for a full-duplex communication protocol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 2, comprising comparing, at said second node, a capability indicated by said capability-indicator portion with a capability available at said second node; and communicating between said first node and said second node using a set of capabilities available at both said first node and said second node.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of establishing communication on a network, said method comprising transmitting a link-integrity signal, said link-integrity signal being downward compatible with a half-duplex 10Base-T capability of an ethernet transceiver, from a first node on said network, said link-integrity signal comprising an indicator of a type of communication capability; receiving said link-integrity signal at a second node on said network; transmitting a capability signal from said second node, responsive to said indicator.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of establishing communication on a network, said method comprising transmitting a link-integrity signal, said link-integrity signal being downward compatible with a half-duplex 10Base-T capability of an ethernet transceiver, from a first node on said network, said link-integrity signal comprising an indicator of a type of communication capability; receiving said link-integrity signal at a second node on said network; transmitting a capability signal from said second node, responsive to said indicator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein said indicator and said capability signal each comprises an indicator of a protocol capability.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein said protocol capability comprises capability for a full-duplex communication protocol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 6, comprising comparing, at said second node, a capability indicated by said capability-indicator portion with a capability available at said second node; and communicating between said first node and said second node using a set of capabilities available at both said first node and said second node.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein said indicator comprises an indicator of a plurality of protocol capabilities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said plurality protocol capabilities comprise an indicator of a full-duplex capability and an indicator of a 10Base-T capability.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 9, comprising comparing, at said second node, a capability indicated by said capability-indicator portion with a capability available at said second node; and communicating between said first node and said second node using a set of capabilities available at both said first node and said second node.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of establishing communication on a network, said method comprising transmitting a link-integrity signal from a first node on said network, said link-integrity signal comprising a first plurality of pulses and a second plurality of pulses interspersed with said first plurality of pulses, said second plurality of pulses comprising a set of data bits; receiving said link-integrity signal at a second node on said network, said second node being coupled to an ethernet transceiver, said first plurality of pulses comprising a link-integrity signal recognizable by said ethernet transceiver; detecting said second plurality of pulses at said second node; and transmitting, from said second node, a link-integrity signal responsive to said second plurality of pulses of said first link-integrity signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of establishing communication on a network, said method comprising transmitting a link-integrity signal from a first node on said network, said link-integrity signal comprising a first plurality of pulses and a second plurality of pulses interspersed with said first plurality of pulses, said second plurality of pulses comprising a set of data bits; receiving said link-integrity signal at a second node on said network, said second node being coupled to an ethernet transceiver, said first plurality of pulses comprising a link-integrity signal recognizable by said ethernet transceiver; detecting said second plurality of pulses at said second node; and transmitting, from said second node, a link-integrity signal responsive to said second plurality of pulses of said first link-integrity signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as a claim 12, wherein said second plurality of pulses of said first link-integrity signal comprises at least one bit representative of a protocol capability of said first node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 13, wherein said protocol capability comprises capability for a full-duplex communication protocol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 13, comprising comparing, at said second node, a capability indicated by said at least one bit with a capability available at said second node; and communicating between said first node and said second node using a set of capabilities available at both said first node and said second node.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A communication network, comprising a communication medium; a first and a second node; an ethernet transceiver coupled to said second node; and a link-integrity signal comprising a first plurality of pulses, whereby said first plurality of pulses comprise a link-integrity signal recognizable by said ethernet transceiver; a second plurality of pulses interspersed with said first plurality of pulses, said second plurality of pulses comprising a set of data bits representative of a communication capability of said first node.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
A communication network, comprising a communication medium; a first and a second node; an ethernet transceiver coupled to said second node; and a link-integrity signal comprising a first plurality of pulses, whereby said first plurality of pulses comprise a link-integrity signal recognizable by said ethernet transceiver; a second plurality of pulses interspersed with said first plurality of pulses, said second plurality of pulses comprising a set of data bits representative of a communication capability of said first node.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A network as in claim 16, wherein said first plurality of pulses comprise a sequence of pulses having a substantially uniform temporal spacing and defining a sequence of interpulse gaps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A network as in claim 16, wherein said second plurality of pulses are disposed in at least some of said interpulse gaps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |