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:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1994
Andre Szczepanek, Bedford, GB;
Denis R Beaudoin, Missouri City, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A local area network ('LAN') controller operable in an IEEE 802.3u network and an IEEE 802.12 network. A common physical connector is used for both standards, attached to an attachment medium such as a card. An 802.3u circuit is attached to the card, implementing the following 802.3u functions: A media access controller ('MAC') layer, and a physical media independent ('PMI') layer that provides the IEEE 802.3u media independent interface ('MII'). An 802.12 circuit is also attached to the card, implementing the following IEEE 802.12 functions: An LLC layer, an MAC layer, and a PMI layer, providing an MII to a device implementing an 802.12 physical media dependent ('PMD') layer. A circuit coupled to the 802.12 circuit multiplexes, according to a predetermined strategy, 802.12 PMI to PMD signals over the physical connector and, alternatively, communicates 802.3u MII signals between the 802.3u circuit and the physical connector.