Patent ID: 6240101
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A stackable repeater for use in a stack of repeaters comprising:local ports, each local port for connecting to a local station on a network or for cascading to a repeater that is not stacked with the stackable repeater;an upper activity port for connecting to a next-higher stackable repeater in the stack, the upper activity port having an upper input receiving an upper-activity input signal from the next-higher stackable repeater, the upper activity port also having an upper output for outputting an upper-activity output signal to the next-higher stackable repeater; anda lower activity port for connecting to a next-lower stackable repeater in the stack, the lower activity port having a lower input receiving a lower-activity input signal from the next-lower stackable repeater, the lower activity port also having a lower output for outputting a lower-activity output signal to the next-lower stackable repeater;a collision line, connected to the stackable repeater, for indicating when any two local ports in the stack of repeaters are both inputting data at a same time;wherein the upper-activity input signal indicates when any higher repeater above the stackable repeater in the stack has a local port that is inputting data to the higher repeater;wherein the lower-activity input signal indicates when any lower repeater below the stackable repeater in the stack has a local port that is inputting data to the lower repeater,whereby local-port activity of the higher repeaters in the stack is sent to the stackable repeater through the upper activity port and local-port activity of the lower repeaters in the stack is sent to the stackable repeater through the lower activity port.