Intel Corporation

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Philip W Martin

Ajay V Bhatt

Gregory A Peek

David William Voth

Mark R Enstrom

Robert T Short

Sudarshan Bala Cadambi

Nelson L Yaple

Narendar Bahadur Sahgal

Ralph A Lipe

Robert A Jacobs

Gary N Matos

Qiang Wu

Steven D Williams

Richard A Bowers

Cheryl M Troy

Ralph L Lipe

A networking method is disclosed. At least one silent slot is included in either a collision detection prefix disposed before a preamble of one or more frames of data to be transmitted across a media or in the one or more frames of data to be transmitted across the media. Transmission collision is detected during the at least one silent slot included. In one embodiment, the method is embodied in a network interface controller having a media access control block to control access to a media, and a physical signal block to physically signal data to be transmitted. The media access controller includes the at least one silent slot in either the collision detection prefix or in the data, and the physical signaling block performs the transmission collision detection during the included at least one silent slot.

Networking method and apparatus using silent slots to facilitate transmission collision detection

A recording unit is incorporated into an electronic device to record an extent to which the electronic device is operated. In one embodiment, the recording unit is a code structure installed in a memory of the electronic device. The extent to which the electronic device has been operated can be interpreted based on information recorded on the electronic device by the recording unit. In one embodiment, the extent to which the electronic device has been operated is used to determine whether or not the electronic device is eligible for re-sale as a new product.

Determining an extent to which an electronic device has been operated

A method for transmitting a network packet formatted in accordance with a given communication protocol over a network operating in accordance with a different communication protocol is provided. According to this method, a network packet formatted in accordance with a given communication protocol associated with a first network type is received from a host device. The network packet is then translated into a network packet that is compatible with a different communication protocol associated with a second network type. The translated network packet is then transmitted over the network of the second network type.

Network adapter for transmitting network packets between a host device and a power line network

A method for managing shared use of a parallel port installed in a host device is provided. The method includes receiving a first type of traffic directed to the parallel port, and also receiving a second type of traffic directed to the parallel port. The first and second types of traffic are then communicated to the parallel port in a controlled manner.

Method and apparatus for communicating with a plurality of peripheral devices through a single parallel port

A method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards used in a computer system. The present invention includes a method and apparatus that enables the circuit cards to be automatically configured during system boot up without any user intervention. The present invention also includes a method for the computer system software to detect resources requested by the circuit cards in order to resolve any system resource conflicts.

Method and apparatus for automatically configuring circuit cards in a

A method and apparatus for reducing the number of interrupts issued by a first device to a second device in a computer system. A delay interval is specified to the first device, the delay interval indicating an amount of time for the first device to wait after receiving data from the second device before issuing an interrupt to the second device. The first device issues the interrupt immediately after receiving the data from the second device when the specified delay is zero. When the delay is non-zero, the first device is scheduled to interrupt the second device after the delay interval expires. If a second unit of data is received from the second device before the delay interval expires, the scheduled interrupt is canceled. Otherwise, the interrupt is issued immediately after the delay interval expires.

Method for improved interrupt processing in a computer system

A computer system having two ports for connecting the computer system to a computer network by means of different transmission media types. Electronic switching is implemented to select between these two ports. The electronic switching is controlled by software. Depending upon which of the two ports is being utilized to connect the computer system to the network, power is either switched on or off to a transceiver. The switching can be accomplished by a voltage regulator with an enable signal or by means of a MOSFET. The computer system can detect which of the two ports is being utilized as a connection to the network by sending a data packet through each of the ports and determining the status of the transmissions.

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Banks, OR, United States of America

Philip W Martin