The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 19, 1993
Richard H de Nijs, Raleigh, NC (US);
Charles L Haymes, Raleigh, NC (US);
Dale T Ulmer, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A network port configurator device for automatically configuring a system having network workstations and corresponding network equipment of various physical protocols. The network port configurator comprises a plurality of input and output ports for receiving physical wiring to which the workstations and network equipment are attached. Detection circuitry attached to the input and output ports determine the physical protocol of the attached workstations and network equipment by determining a characteristic of the attached equipment. Examples of identifying characteristics include a characteristic impedance, a characteristic voltage, and a characteristic cable identification of the workstation. Logic circuitry uses this information to control a circuit switching mechanism that connects the input ports to the output ports.