Patent ID: 8300539
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A switching device in communication with a partner device, and comprising a plurality of Ethernet ports, an Ethernet switch integrated circuit (IC), a processor, a storage system, and one or more programs stored in the storage system and operable to be executed by the processor and comprising: an automatic negotiation module that transmits a link code word related to the Ethernet switch IC to the partner device by one of the Ethernet ports for automatic negotiation with the partner device, and subsequently receives and records a first response link code word corresponding to the automatic negotiation; a changing module that changes the link code word related to the Ethernet switch IC, wherein the automatic negotiation module further transmits the changed link code word to the partner device by the one of the Ethernet ports for automatic negotiation with the partner device, and determines if the automatic negotiation by the changed link code word is successful, and subsequently receives and records a second response link code word corresponding to the automatic negotiation by the changed link code word when the automatic negotiation by the changed link code word is successful; a loopback determining module that determines the one of the Ethernet ports experiences loopback upon the condition that the first response link code word is unequal to the second response link code word, and further determines the one of the Ethernet ports does not experience loopback upon the condition that the first response link code word is equal to the second response link code word; and a delaying module that presets a delaying time period, wherein the automatic negotiation module further determines if the partner device requests to re-negotiate with the switching device during the delaying time period.