Patent ID: 7787387
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting active link partners and for selecting a mode of operation based on detected active link partners, in an Ethernet physical layer device (“PHY”), comprising: (1) monitoring an energy level of a port of a copper link media for an active copper link partner; (2) monitoring a fiber link media for an active fiber link partner; (3) selecting a serial gigabit media independent interface (“SGMII”) mode of operation when said active copper link partner is detected and said active fiber link partner is not detected; (4) selecting a serializer/deserializer (“SerDes”) pass-through mode of operation when said active fiber link partner is detected and said active copper link partner is not detected; (5) interfacing with said active copper link partner when said copper mode of operation is selected; and (6) interfacing with said active fiber link partner when said SerDes pass-through mode of operation is selected.