Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus interface architecture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2002-12-31
Wong, Peter (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Bus interface architecture
C710S301000, C710S008000, C713S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06502160
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 38743/1999 filed on Sep. 10, 1999 and Korean Patent Application No. 46453/1999 filed on Oct. 25, 1999, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 . Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an unmanaged Ethernet switch, and more particularly, to an apparatus or method for establishing construction information of an unmanaged Ethernet switch.
2 . Description of the Related Art
In general, there are two types of Ethernet switches that enable high speed Ethernet switching. One type of Ethernet switch is managed by a central processing unit (CPU) and is known as a “managed Ethernet switch.” The other type of Ethernet switch is not managed by the CPU and is known as an “unmanaged Ethernet switch.” Accordingly, in the case of the managed Ethernet switch, if a construction form of an option slot is modified, the CPU automatically processes switch construction information according to the modified option slot, while, in the case of the unmanaged Ethernet switch, an extra storing unit, storing construction information, is fittingly provided according to the construction form of the option slot to process the switch construction information.
FIG. 1
shows an unmanaged Ethernet switch having a crossbar switch
11
, first and second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
, and a ROM
13
in accordance with conventional art. The option slots may be varied in number. The crossbar switch
11
performs the main switching of the unmanaged Ethernet switch. The first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
have a front-load structure. Various option boards for providing speeds of 10/100/1000 mbps can b e mounted in the first and second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
, and mounted option boards #
1
and #
2
are respectively connected to connectors
25
and
14
. The ROM
13
stores construction information of option boards #
1
and #
2
, which are mounted in the first an the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
. The crossbar switch
11
and the ROM
13
are implemented on a main board
10
which is covered by an outer casing.
The operation of the unmanaged Ethernet switch constructed as described above will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the unmanaged Ethernet switch of the conventional art, the construction information of the switch, that is, the construction information of option board #
1
or option board #
2
mounted in the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
, are typically assigned by the ROM
13
positioned on the main board
10
. Accordingly, in a case where the construction form of the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
is changed as the option board #
1
and/or the option board #
2
are mounted or dismounted, a fresh ROM
13
needs to be used suitably for the changed option slot form.
The below Table 1 shows forms of the ROM
13
to be used corresponding to each construction form of the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
. In this respect, ROM
1
~ROM
3
have information about whether option board #
1
and/or option board #
2
are respectively mounted in the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
.
TABLE 1
Memory
Construction Form
First Option Slot
Second Option Slot
Form
First
Not mounted
Not mounted
ROM1
Second
Option board #1
Not mounted
ROM2
mounted
Third
Option board #1
Option board #2
ROM3
mounted
mounted
For example, if it is desired to change the construction form of the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
from the first construction form to the second construction form, a user would open the outer casing of the unmanaged Ethernet switch and remove ROM
1
used in the first construction form from the ROM mounting socket, before turning on the power. The user would then mount ROM
2
, storing construction information suitable for the second construction form, in the ROM mounting socket and operate the unmanaged Ethernet switch to turn on the power.
In the same manner, in a case of changing the construction form of the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
from the second construction form to the third construction form, the user removes ROM
2
and mounts ROM
3
in place of it for use. Also, in a case of changing the construction form of the first and the second option slots
12
-
1
and
12
-
2
from the third construction form to the second or the first construction form, the user removes existing ROM
3
and mounts ROM
2
or ROM
1
in place of it for use.
As described above, the first and the second option slots are separated from the main board and usually have a front-load structure to facilitate the change in the construction of the switch. Accordingly, in the case of changing the structure of the unmanaged Ethernet switch, each option board is mounted or dismounted in the first and the second option slots without opening the outer casing. However, because the ROM storing the information on the switch construction of the conventional unmanaged Ethernet switch is typically positioned on a main board covered by an outer casing, in the case of replacing the ROM in adjustment to a change in the construction of the unmanaged Ethernet switch, inconveniently, the user should open and close the outer casing to replace the ROM with a fresh one every time the construction form of each option slot is changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for establishing construction information of an unmanaged Ethernet switch which is capable of readily replacing a memory according to a construction form of each option slot without opening or closing an outer casing.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
In order to achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, in one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for establishing construction information of an unmanaged Ethernet switch, comprising a crossbar switch performing a main switching operation; a first option slot having a front-load structure for mounting a first option board; a second option slot having a front-load structure for mounting a second option board; first and second memories storing switch construction information of a construction form of the first and second option slots; and a bus switch connecting the first memory to the crossbar switch in a case that a first option board is dismounted from the first option slot, and connecting the second memory to the crossbar switch in a case that the first option board is mounted in the first option slot.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for establishing construction information of an unmanaged Ethernet switch, comprising a crossbar switch performing a main switching operation; first and second option slots each having a front-load structure for respectively mounting first and second option boards; a first memory storing construction information of a first construction form of the first and second option slots; a second memory storing construction information of a second construction form of the first and second option slots; a bus switch connected between the first and the second memories and the crossbar switch so as to connect one of the first and the second memories to the crossbar switch according to a construction form of the first and second option slots; and a connector that indicates to the bus switch whether there is a first option board mounted in the first option slot.
In yet a
Cho Sung Han
Kim Jin Dae
Huynh Kim T.
LG Information & Communications Ltd.
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Wong Peter
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