Gregg Fox Kreielsheimer

US Patent:

63321661, Dec 18, 2001

Filed:

Dec 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/465480

Inventors:

Hayden Clavie Cranford - Apex NC
Joseph Ronald Efferson - Raleigh NC
Theodore Allen Gary - Apex NC
Steven Howard Johnson - Cary NC
Gregg Kreielsheimer - Raleigh NC
Mark Edmund Scheuer - Wake Forest NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1516

US Classification:

709250

Abstract:

An adaptive interface and method of operation facilitate connection of a work station in a Local Area Network (LAN) using Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cabling to an Ethernet 10/100BASE TX installation using Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP). The work station is coupled through the adaptive interface to the STP cabling system emulating a given number of meters of UTP cabling. The interface adapter comprises at one end a RJ 45 connector adapted for connection to the STP cabling and at the other end a MIC_S token ring connector coupled to an Ethernet adapter through the STP cabling system. The adaptive interface includes programmatically controlled filters interconnecting the RJ 45 and MIC_S connectors. The filter comprises a series of 1. . . N switchable lumped passive element units which can be sequentially connected into the STP cabling to emulate the amplitude attenuation and phase shift of a preselected length of UTP 5 cabling, typically in the range of 20 meters.