Self-locking a network communications component transmission rate

A network communications component may be configured to self-lock at a signaled transmission rate. The network communications component may receive a first transmission rate signal indicating a first transmission rate. It may be determined that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset on the network communications component. Determining that the transmission rate for the network communications component is unset may include accessing an entry for the transmission rate in a vital product data stored on the network communications component. The transmission rate for the network communications component may be set by storing an indication of the received first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component. Data transmission by the network communications component may be limited, in accordance with the stored indication of the first transmission rate, to not exceed the set transmission rate.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate.

Description of Related Art

Local area networks and wide area networks use multiple transmission rates across different transmission media. The transmission rates used across any given transmission media is a product of the technological limitations of the devices and communications media transmitting the data across each segment of the communications network. Much of the value of the devices that facilitate data transmission across network segments is derived from the transmission rate capabilities of the device. For example, devices capable of higher transmission rates often command a higher price than devices that are limited to lower transmission rates.

SUMMARY

Methods, systems, and apparatus for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate are disclosed in this specification. Self-locking a network communications component transmission rate includes receiving, by the network communications component, a first transmission rate signal indicating a first transmission rate; determining that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset; setting the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component; and limiting, based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary methods, apparatus, and products for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate in accordance with the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning withFIG. 1.FIG. 1sets forth a block diagram of automated computing machinery comprising an exemplary computing system (152) configured for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention. The computing system (152) ofFIG. 1includes at least one computer processor (156) or ‘CPU’ as well as random access memory (168) (‘RAM’) which is connected through a high speed memory bus (166) and bus adapter (158) to processor (156) and to other components of the computing system (152).

Stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating systems useful in computers configured for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention include UNIX™, Linux™, Microsoft XP™, AIX™, IBM's i5/OS™, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. The operating system (154) in the example ofFIG. 1is shown in RAM (168), but many components of such software typically are stored in non-volatile memory also, such as, for example, on a disk drive (170).

The exemplary computing system (152) ofFIG. 1includes a network interface adapter (167) for data communications with other computers (182) and for data communications with a data communications network. Such data communications may be carried out serially through RS-232 connections, through external buses such as a Universal Serial Bus (‘USB’), through data communications networks such as IP data communications networks, and in other ways as will occur to those of skill in the art. Network interface adapters implement the hardware level of data communications through which one computer sends data communications to another computer, directly or through a data communications network. Examples of network interface adapters useful in computers configured for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention include modems for wired dial-up communications, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) adapters for wired data communications, and 802.11 adapters for wireless data communications.

FIG. 2is an example block diagram of a system configured for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate.FIG. 2includes a network interface adapter (167), a transceiver (204), a communications media (206), and a communications network (208). The network interface adapter (167) and the transceiver (204) may each include a vital product data (202).

The network interface adapter (167) and transceiver (204) are network communications components. A network communications component is a component of a network communications device or adapter that facilitates the transmission and reception of data communications. Each network communications component may also control the transmission rate of data through the device or adapter. Each network communications component includes logic that determines the maximum transmission rate for the network communications component.

The vital product data (202) is a set of data describing the network communications component. The vital product data (202) includes an indication of whether the transmission rate for the network communications component is set or unset. If set, the vital product data (202) also includes an indication of the set transmission rate. The vital product data (202) may also include other information about the network communications component, such as a hardware revision identifier, a model identifier, a maximum transmission rate, and unique identifier.

The transceiver (204) adapts the network interface adapter (167) to the physical communications media (206). The transceiver (204) may, for example, adapt optical communications media (i.e., optical cables) to an electrical interface on the network interface adapter (167). The transceiver (204) may attach to the network interface adapter (167) via a standardized cage (e.g., Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP), Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP), etc.).

The communications media (206) is the physical conduit used to transmit data to other computing systems on the communications network (208). Examples of communications media (206) include unshielded twisted pair (UTP) media with RJ45 connectors and direct attach copper cables.

The communications network (208) includes at least one computing system operatively connected to a network communications component via the communications media (206). The communications network (208) may include a group of interconnected computing systems and network devices connected by communications media which allows data to be transmitted among and between the connected computing systems. Examples of communications networks (208) include local area networks and wide area networks, such as the Internet.

For further explanation,FIG. 3sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention. The method ofFIG. 3includes receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate. Receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate may be carried out by operatively coupling the network communications component to a communications network (e.g., a single computing system, a local area network, etc.) and transmitting an auto-detect or auto-negotiate message on the communications network.

Receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate may be carried out in response to operatively coupling the network communications component to the communications network. Upon operatively coupling the network communications component to another computing device or network device, the network communications component may auto-detect or auto-negotiate with one or more other computing devices or network devices on the communications network to receive the transmission rate signal. The transmission rate signal may be sent to the network communications component in response to an auto-detect or auto-negotiate signal sent from the network communications component. The transmission rate signal (320) may also be received via another network communications component. For example, the transceiver may receive the transmission rate signal via a network interface adapter.

Receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate may also be carried out by reading the vital product data of the computing device or network device coupled to the network communications component. The component logic (300) may send a request for the vital product data via the communications network (208) once a connection has been detected.

The first transmission rate signal (320) is a signal received by the network communications component (e.g., network interface adapter or transceiver) that includes an indication of a transmission rate. The indication of the transmission rate may be a maximum available transmission rate across that segment of the communications network. The indication of the transmission rate may be presented in terms of the number of bits per second supported by the segment, network, or connected network devices.

The method ofFIG. 3also includes determining (304) that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset. Determining (304) that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset may be carried out by accessing an entry for the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) stored on the network communications component; and determining that the entry for the transmission rate indicates that no transmission rate has been set for the network communications component.

The method ofFIG. 3also includes setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component. Setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component may be carried out by storing (402) the indication of the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) in non-volatile memory on the network communications component.

For example, a manufacturer may want to sell 16 Gb/s network interface adapters at one price and 8 Gb/s at a lower price, but produce and maintain an inventory of only 16 Gb/s network interface adapters. This may occur if the cost per device for manufacturing only 16 Gb/s network interface adapters is less than the cost per device for manufacturing two different types of network interface adapters. Each 16 Gb/s network interface adapters may be manufactured with a vital product data that includes an unset transmission rate. Upon receiving an order for an 8 Gb/s network interface adapter, the manufacture connects a 16 Gb/s network interface adapter to a test network that advertises (i.e., sends out a transmission rate signal) a transmission rate of 8 Gb/s. The 16 Gb/s network interface adapter receives the transmission rate signal that indicates a transmission rate of 8 Gb/s. The component logic within the 16 Gb/s network interface adapter determines that the transmission rate in the vital product data is unset. The component logic within the 16 Gb/s network interface adapter then sets the maximum transmission rate within the vital product data to 8 Gb/s.

The method ofFIG. 3also includes limiting (308), based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate. Limiting (308), based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate may be carried out by transmitting data at a maximum transmission rate of the stored indication of the first transmission rate. Continuing with the example above, once the purchaser receives the network interface adapter, the purchaser may couple the adapter to a communications network that advertises 16 Gb/s. However, the network interface adapter will only transmit data at a maximum speed of 8 Gb/s, the transmission rate set in the vital product data on the network interface adapter.

For further explanation,FIG. 4sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention that includes receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate; determining (304) that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset; setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component; and limiting (308), based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate.

The method ofFIG. 4differs from the method ofFIG. 3, however, in that setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component includes storing (402) the indication of the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) in non-volatile memory on the network communications component. Storing (402) the indication of the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) in non-volatile memory on the network communications component may be carried out by altering an entry in the vital product data that indicates that the transmission rate is unset to indicate that the transmission rate is set. For example, an element, such as a bit, in the vital product data may indicate whether the transmission rate is set. A down bit may indicate that the transmission rate is unset, and an up bit may indicate that the transmission rate is set.

Storing (402) the indication of the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) in non-volatile memory on the network communications component may also be carried out by altering an entry in the vital product data to indicate a maximum transmission rate. For example, the vital product data (202) may include an entry that indicates the maximum transmission rate for the network communications component. If the transmission rate is unset, then the entry that indicates the maximum transmission rate may be null or may indicate the maximum transmission rate of the hardware present on the network communications component. Once the transmission rate is set, the maximum transmission rate (e.g., 8 Gb/s) may be stored in the maximum transmission rate entry.

The method ofFIG. 4also differs from the method ofFIG. 3in that setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component includes wherein storing the indication of the first transmission rate in the memory location on the network communications component self-locks (404) the network communications component to a maximum transmission rate of the first transmission rate. The maximum transmission rate may be self-locked in the network communications component in that once the transmission rate is set, and the maximum transmission rate stored in the vital product data, the maximum transmission rate may not be altered. For example, the entry in the vital product data that indicates whether the transmission rate is set may only be altered one way—from unset to set. Once set, the transmission rate may not be unset. This may be accomplished, for example, by changing the entry from read-write to read-only once the transmission rate is set.

For further explanation,FIG. 5sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention that includes receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate; determining (304) that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset; setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component; and limiting (308), based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate.

The method ofFIG. 5differs from the method ofFIG. 3, however, in that limiting (308), based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate includes receiving (502), by the network communications component, a second transmission rate signal (322) indicating a second transmission rate, wherein the second transmission rate is higher than the first transmission rate; determining (504) that the transmission rate for the network communications component is set to the first transmission rate; and transmitting (506), by the network communications component, data on a communications network (208) at a maximum rate of the first transmission rate.

Receiving (502), by the network communications component, a second transmission rate signal (322) indicating a second transmission rate, wherein the second transmission rate is higher than the first transmission rate may be carried out by operatively coupling the network communications component to a communications network (e.g., a single computing system, a local area network, etc.) and transmitting an auto-detect or auto-negotiate message on the communications network. In response, the network communications component may receive the second transmission rate signal (322). The second transmission rate signal (322) is a transmission rate signal received by the network communications component after the first transmission rate signal (320) is received.

Determining (504) that the transmission rate for the network communications component is set to the first transmission rate may be carried out by accessing an entry for the transmission rate in the vital product data (202) stored on the network communications component; and determining that the entry for the transmission rate indicates that a transmission rate has been set for the network communications component. Transmitting (506), by the network communications component, data on a communications network (208) at a maximum rate of the first transmission rate may be carried out by throttling the data transmission rate to a maximum transmission rate as described in the vital product data for the network communications component.

For example, a manufacturer may receive an order from a customer for an 8 Gb/s transceiver. The manufacturer may have an inventory of 32 Gb/s transceivers. The manufacture may attach a 32 Gb/s transceiver to a network interface adapter and communications network advertising a transmission rate of 8 Gb/s. The 32 Gb/s transceiver receives the first transmission rate signal that indicates a transmission rate of 8 Gb/s. The component logic within the 32 Gb/s transceiver determines that the transmission rate in the vital product data is unset. The component logic within the 32 Gb/s transceiver then sets the transmission rate within the vital product data to 8 Gb/s.

Once the customer receives the 8 Gb/s transceiver she ordered, she may attach that 8 Gb/s transceiver to a network interface adapter and communications network advertising 16 Gb/s. The 8 Gb/s transceiver receives the second transmission rate signal that indicates a transmission rate of 16 Gb/s. The component logic within the 8 Gb/s transceiver determines that the transmission rate in the vital product data is set to a maximum transmission rate of 8 Gb/s. The 8 Gb/s transceiver, therefore, will only transmit data at a maximum rate of 8 Gb/s despite being operatively coupled to a network interface adapter and communications network capable of transmitting data at 16 Gb/s (and despite the transceiver having hardware capable of transmitting data at 32 Gb/s).

For further explanation,FIG. 6sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention that includes receiving (302), by a network communications component, a first transmission rate signal (320) indicating a first transmission rate; determining (304) that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset; setting (306) the transmission rate for the network communications component by storing an indication of the first transmission rate in a memory location on the network communications component; and limiting (308), based on the stored indication of the first transmission rate, data transmission on the network communications component to the first transmission rate.

The method ofFIG. 6differs from the method ofFIG. 3, however, in that determining (304) that a transmission rate for the network communications component is unset includes accessing (602) an entry for the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) stored on the network communications component; and determining (604) that the entry for the transmission rate indicates that no transmission rate has been set for the network communications component.

Accessing (602) an entry for the transmission rate in a vital product data (202) stored on the network communications component may be carried out by determining which entry in the vital product data (202) corresponds to the entry that indicates whether the transmission rate for the network communications component is set. The vital product data (202) may include one entry that indicates whether the transmission rate for the network communications component is set and another entry indicating the maximum transmission rate of the network communications component. Alternatively, a single entry in the vital product data (202) may instead be used. For example, the entry in the vital product data (202) may store a null entry or ‘0’ to indicate that the transmission rate is unset and a non-null entry or value that both indicates that the transmission rate is set and provides the set transmission rate (e.g., ‘8’ indicating that the transmission rate is set, and the value is 8 Gb/s).

Determining (604) that the entry for the transmission rate indicates that no transmission rate has been set for the network communications component may be carried out by comparing the value read from the entry to an expected value indicating an unset transmission rate. For example, if the value read from the vital product data (202) is equal to 0, then the component logic (300) determines that the transmission rate is unset.

In view of the explanations set forth above, readers will recognize that the benefits of self-locking a network communications component transmission rate according to embodiments of the present invention include:Improving the operation of network communications components by locking transmission speeds on first use to increase device flexibility and versatility.Improving the manufacturing of network communications components by locking transmission speeds on first use, increasing manufacturing efficiency.