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:
Mar. 17, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 11, 2004
Stephen C. Gordy, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Henry D. Poelstra, Ottawa, CA;
Robert W. Otis, San Jose, CA (US);
Thomas L. Gallatin, San Jose, CA (US);
Stephen C. Gordy, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Henry D. Poelstra, Ottawa, CA;
Robert W. Otis, San Jose, CA (US);
Thomas L. Gallatin, San Jose, CA (US);
Finisar Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method is presented for a network tap having integrated circuitry therein for obtaining statistics about a communication line. The network tap also has a routing node for allowing information to be transmitted back into the communication line from an attached device without disrupting the communication traffic. The routing node coordinates the transmission of device data from an attached device to avoid data collisions with data transmissions already existing in the communication line. The routing node may be an Ethernet switch or field programmable gate array (FPGA). The integrated circuit may be a microprocessor or FPGA. The integrated circuit also controls other components of the network tap. The integrated circuit may also be programmed or upgraded to provide other functions.