Apparatus and method for switching ethernet media type

Abstract

A computer system having two ports for connecting the computer system to a computer network by means of different transmission media types. Electronic switching is implemented to select between these two ports. The electronic switching is controlled by software. Depending upon which of the two ports is being utilized to connect the computer system to the network, power is either switched on or off to a transceiver. The switching can be accomplished by a voltage regulator with an enable signal or by means of a MOSFET. The computer system can detect which of the two ports is being utilized as a connection to the network by sending a data packet through each of the ports and determining the status of the transmissions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer system having an interface for coupling said computer system with a computer network, said interface comprising: a first input/output port for connecting said computer system to said computer network by a first transmission media type, said first input/output port being selectively enabled or disabled for data transfer,   a second input/output port for connecting said computer system to said computer network by a second transmission media type, said second input/output port being always enabled for data transfer,   means for generating an enable/disable signal for selectively enabling or disabling said first port,   detecting means, coupled to said first input/output port and said second input/output port, for detecting which one of said first or said second port is connected to said computer network, said detecting means comprising: a) means for controlling said means for generating to enable said first port,   b) means for transmitting a data packet to an address corresponding to said computer system via said first port;   c) means for determining a status of a data packet transmission transmitted to said address corresponding to said computer system,   d) means for controlling said means for generating to disable said first port if said data packet is not successfully transmitted on said first port,   e) means for transmitting a data packet to an address corresponding to said computer system via said second port if said data packet is not successfully transmitted on said first port, and     a means for transmitting and receiving data via one of said first port or said second port, depending on which of said first and said second port is connected to said computer network.   
     
     
       2. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage regulator which supplies power to a transceiver according to said enable/disable signal. 
     
     
       3. The computer system of claim 2 further comprising a non-volatile memory means for storing a state of said enable/disable signal. 
     
     
       4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said first transmission media type is twisted pair wiling and said second transmission media type is an attachment unit interface (AUI) cable. 
     
     
       5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said first transmission media type is a coaxial cable and said second transmission media type is an attachment unit interface (AUI) cable. 
     
     
       6. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a transistor for switching power to a transceiver based on said enable/disable signal. 
     
     
       7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein said transistor is a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). 
     
     
       8. In a computer system having an interface for coupling said computer system with a computer network, said interface having a first input/output port for connecting said computer system to said computer network by a first transmission media type, said first input/output port being selectively enabled or disabled for data transfer, said interface including second input/output port for connecting said computer system to said computer network by a second transmission media type, said second input/output port being always enabled for data transfer, a method for selectively determining which of a first or a second port is connected to said computer network, said method comprising the steps of: generating an enable signal to enable said first port;   transmitting a data packet to an address corresponding to said computer system via said first port;   determining a status of a data packet transmission transmitted to said address corresponding to said computer system,   generating a disable signal to disable said first port if said data packet is not successfully transmitted on said first port, transmitting a data packet to an address corresponding to said computer system via said second pat if said data packet is not successfully transmitted on said first port, and   transmitting and receiving data via one of said first port or said second port, depending on which of said first and said second port is connected to said computer network. .Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  A computer system having an interface for coupling the computer system with a computer network, the interface comprising: a first input/output port that connects the computer system to the computer network by a first transmission media type, the first input/output port being selectively enabled or disabled for data transfer,   a second input/output port that connects the computer system to the computer network by a second transmission media type, the second input/output port being selectively enabled or disabled for data transfer,   a first regulator that generates a first enable/disable signal that selectively enables or disables the first port,   a second regulator that generates a second enable/disable signal that selectively enables or disables the second port,   a detector, coupled to the first and second input/output port, that detects which one of the first or second port is connected to the computer network, the detector comprising: a) a first transmitter that transmits a first data packet to an address corresponding to the computer system via the first port;   b) a second transmitter that transmits a second data packet to the address corresponding to the computer system via the second port;   c) a status determination circuit that determines the status of the transmission of the first and second data packets transmitted to the address corresponding to the computer system by the first and second transmitters;   d) a control circuit that generates a first control signal that causes the first regulator to disable the first port if the first data packet is not successfully transmitted on the first port and that generates a second control signal that causes the second regulator to disable the second port if the second data packet is not successfully transmitted on the second port, and     a transmitter/receiver circuit that transmits and receives data via one of the first port or the second port, depending on which one of the first and the second port is connected to the computer network by said first or second regulator. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The computer system of claim 9 further comprising a voltage regulator which supplies power to a transceiver according to the first enable/disable signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The computer system of claim 10 further comprising a non-volatile memory that stores a state of the first enable/disable signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the first transmission media type is a twisted pair wiring and the second transmission type is an attachment unit interface (AUI) cable. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the first transmission media type is a coaxial cable and the second transmission media type is an attachment unit interface (AUI) cable. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a transistor that switches power to a transceiver based on the enable/disable signal. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the transistor is a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). .Iaddend.