Patent ID: 6516352
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network interface card configured for use within a network device comprising:a first physical layer device configured to be coupled to a first transmission medium, wherein said first transmission medium is continuously linked to said network device whenever said first physical layer device is active, and wherein said first transmission medium is a fiber-optic transmission medium; a second physical layer device configured to be coupled to a second transmission medium, wherein said second transmission medium is a non-fiber-optic transmission medium; a link switching unit coupled to said first physical layer device and said second physical layer device and configured to dynamically switch between said first physical layer device and said second physical layer device in establishing a network link; and a physical layer interface unit coupled to said link switching unit, the physical layer interface unit comprising a first physical layer interface sub-unit and a second physical layer interface sub-unit, wherein the first physical layer interface sub-unit is configured to process incoming data according to an interface of the first physical layer device and the second physical layer interface sub-unit is configured to process incoming data according to an interface of the second physical layer device.