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:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 11, 1999
John K. Chen, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Gregory Lee DeJager, San Jose, CA (US);
Robert D. Hastings, Fremont, CA (US);
Gordon MacKay, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Gopakumar Parameswaran, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Santanu Sinha, Cupertino, CA (US);
Robert Gregory Twiss, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Van Van Nguyen, San Jose, CA (US);
Cisco Technology Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A repeater, useable for connecting switches in a data communication network, is provided in a distributed and/or modular fashion. The repeater includes a plurality of separate and distinct components or modules connected to or at least partially housed in, the various switches which the repeater modules couple. The distributed and/or modular repeater facilitates accommodating various switching or repeater needs as a network grows or contracts. A light pipe, preferably integral with a module case, conveys indicator lights to a position visible when viewing a switch front panel. A heat spreader unit receives and/or conveys heat and/or protects against undue EMI. A collision-handling state machine transmits modified collision fragments so as to avoid reduction in interpacket gaps, e.g. by downstream repeater modules.