Patent ID: 6397159
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G01R,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for determining a length of a network cable in a computer network, comprising:generating a predetermined signal on the network cable; detecting a response of the cable to the predetermined signal at an intermediate location on the network cable between ends of the cable; analyzing the response for an influence of a terminator, wherein determining the influence of the terminator comprises: calculating at least a first-order differential of the response as a function of delay from the generation of the predetermined signal; determining where the first-order differential indicates an inflection at a highest time delay from the predetermined signal; and identifying the inflection as the terminator; determining a time delay between the generation of the predetermined signal and when the influence of terminator is detected; and calculating the length of the network cable to the terminator in response to the time delay.