Method and apparatus for supporting multiple protocols on a network

Patent 5841985 Issued on November 24, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 18, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Application

No. 715651 filed on 09/18/1996

US Classes:

709/227, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING370/468, Assignment of variable bandwidth or time period for transmission or reception709/208, MASTER/SLAVE COMPUTER CONTROLLING709/230COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER PROTOCOL IMPLEMENTING

Examiners

Primary: Bowler, Alyssa H.
Assistant: Davis, Albert W. Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman

International Class

H04J 003/22

Abstract

A circuit to control a network interface includes a first interface circuit and a second interface circuit. The first interface circuit is capable of negotiating one protocol to use from a plurality of known interface protocols. The first interface circuit controls the network interface when the negotiated interface protocol is supported by the first interface circuit. Otherwise, if the second interface circuit supports the negotiated protocol, the first interface circuit releases control of the network interface to the second interface circuit. The first interface circuit takes control of the network interface from the second interface circuit when the second interface circuit signals the first interface circuit that reliable communication with the network has been lost.