Thao V Hoang

US Patent:

60728035, Jun 6, 2000

Filed:

Apr 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/062892

Inventors:

David M. Allmond - Carrollton TX
Laura E. Whitmire - Carrollton TX
Ahmad Nouri - Carrollton TX
Thao Minh Hoang - Carrollton TX
Hieu M. Hoang - Flower Mound TX
Arthur T. Bennett - Coppell TX

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04L 12413

US Classification:

370445

Abstract:

A communication protocol detection system for enabling a network system to detect and interface one or more network devices each operating according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols. In one embodiment, a network interface card (NIC) is capable of operating according to one of two different communication protocols, such as the 10Base-T and 100Base-TX Ethernet Standards. The NIC includes two corresponding transceivers, where the transceivers are interfaced to a network connector for interfacing an external network device. Control logic initially enables the 10Base-T transceiver to determine if link pulses are detected. If link pulses are detected, the 100Base-T transceiver is enabled to determine if it detects the link pulses. If so, the 100Base-T transceiver is used to establish communications, and if not, the 10Base-T transceiver is used. Preferably, the 100Base-T transceiver is re-enabled a predetermined number of times to determine if the network device is a 100 Mbps device.