Patent ID: 6538994
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
A method of controlling the rate of transmission of data between a network station having various ports and another station connected by way of a transmission link to one of said ports, wherein both the said network station and the other station are capable of receiving and transmitting data at any one of a defined plurality of standard data rates, said data rates comprising at least a higher rate and a lower rate, and wherein the said network station includes means for establishing by means of auto-negotiation whether data is to be transmitted between the said network station and the other station at the said higher rate, and further wherein a data connection between the said network station and the other station is maintained by the transmission of a continuous sequence of symbols representing an idle state, said method comprising:(a) monitoring at the said network station the occurrence of an error represented by a symbol other than an idle state immediately followed by an idle state symbol; (b) comparing a rate of occurrence of said errors with a threshold; and (c) forcing the data connection to proceed at the said lower rate if the aforementioned error rate exceeds the threshold.