Patent ID: 9219676
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A network device, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a data communication signal from a link partner via a communication cable; a first measurement subsystem having first diagnostic abilities and configured to measure one or more characteristics of a communication channel that includes the communication cable; and a controller communicatively coupled to the receiver, the controller configured to receive second link diagnostic capability information received by the receiver from the link partner via the communication cable, the received second link diagnostic capability information enabling the controller to determine second diagnostic abilities of a second measurement subsystem in the link partner to measure one or more characteristics of the communication channel, and the controller configured to compare the second diagnostic abilities of the second measurement subsystem in the link partner to the first diagnostic abilities of the first measurement subsystem to measure one or more characteristics of the communication channel, and to designate, based on the comparison of the first diagnostic abilities to the second diagnostic abilities, one of the first measurement subsystem and the second measurement subsystem as a source of link related measurement information used to configure operation of a network service over the communication channel, wherein the second link diagnostic capability information is received by an autonegotiator via an auto-negotiation next page message.