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.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 2012

Filed:

Apr. 01, 2010
Applicants:

Stefan Kerber, Straubenhardt, DE;

Robert Wilhelm, Ettlingen, DE;

Inventors:

Stefan Kerber, Straubenhardt, DE;

Robert Wilhelm, Ettlingen, DE;

Assignee:

SMSC Europe GmbH, Karlsruhe, DE;

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 11/07 (2006.01); H04L 12/42 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A communication system, network node, and communication port architecture are provided for transporting data across a ring network. If a network node detects a signal failure, the communication port of the network node configures itself as timing master and communicates a shutdown command to the other network nodes. In addition, the communication port sets an internal flag signaling this 'signal off' event. All other network nodes, which receive the shutdown flag, do not set this internal status, and instead, save a status of 'no fault saved.' Accordingly, it can be easily determined where the loss of signal occurred.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…