Patent ID: 8842519
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network interface apparatus, comprising: first and second transformers; a network input and a network output respectively coupled to a first side of said first transformer and a first side of said second transformer and coupling said network interface apparatus to a network comprising a plurality of network devices coupled in a daisy chain manner, each said network device being operative to receive a network signal including at least one of audio and video content; a terminal input and a terminal output respectively coupled to a second side of said first transformer and a second side of said second transformer and being coupled to a first one of said network devices; a watchdog circuit operative to detect if a fault condition arises for one of said network devices; a switch assembly, controlled by said watchdog circuit, and coupled to said second sides of said first and second transformers, wherein: when said switch assembly is in a first state, said network signal received at said network input is passed to said first network device and a second network device coupled to said first network device in said network; and when said switch assembly is in a second state, said network signal received at said network input is not passed to said first network device but is passed to said second network device; and circuitry, coupled to said network, and operative to receive and process said network signal to generate a first signal as an operating voltage for said watchdog circuit and said switch assembly, and further operative to provide the at least one of audio or video content different from said first signal to said first network device.