Patent ID: 6438109
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for connecting a communications device to a network having a plurality of transmissions media, comprising the steps of:a) determining availability of each of the plurality of transmissions media in the network; b) collecting data from each of the plurality of available transmissions media in turn; and, c) determining in response to said collected data on which of the plurality of transmissions media to establish a network connection from the communications device to the network, wherein the step of collecting data further comprises: selecting a first available transmissions medium from the plurality of transmissions media; acquiring self-ID messages from devices connected to said selected transmissions medium; broadcasting an auto-select message on said selected transmissions medium; receiving acknowledgment messages broadcast by said devices connected to said selected transmissions medium in response to said auto-select message; and choosing a next available transmissions medium from the plurality of transmissions media, and repeating the steps of selecting, acquiring, broadcasting and receiving, until all available transmissions media have been examined.