Patent ID: 6219335
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
Apparatus for locating a fault within a token ring network, the token ring network including first and second stations coupled in a ring topology, each of the first and second stations having an input to receive data from the token ring network and an output to transmit data onto the token ring network, and each being to generate or repeat beaconing data indicating a network communication fault, the apparatus comprising:a first detector, associated with the first station, to monitor a first location for beaconing data, and to provide both a first indication of the detection of beaconing data generated by the first station and a second indication of the detection of beaconing data not generated by the first station;a second detector, associated with the second station, to monitor a second location for beaconing data, and to provide both a third indication of the detection of beaconing data generated by the second station and a fourth indication of the detection of beaconing data not generated by the second station;a fault identifier, coupled to the first and second detectors, to identify the location of a network fault based on a comparison of either the first and third indications or the second and fourth indications; anda first isolator and a second isolator to isolate the first and second stations respectively from the token ring network,wherein the first location is between the first station and the first isolator and between the output of the first station and the input of the second station and the second location is between the second station and the second isolator and between the output of the second station and the input of the first station, so as to allow the first and second detectors to detect beaconing data propagated from the first and second stations respectively when isolated from the token ring network.