Patent ID: 8064473

Claim:
An Ethernet switch, comprising: an Ethernet switching unit; and a plurality of port pairs, each of the port pairs comprising a first 8-pin RJ45 jack and a second 8-pin RJ45 jack, four selected pins of the first RJ45 jack being coupled with the Ethernet switching unit for conducting a 10/100Base-T Ethernet signal associated with the Ethernet switching unit, and the other four pins of the first RJ45 jack being coupled with the second RJ45 jack for conducting a 10/100Base-T Ethernet signal associated the second RJ45 jack, and the second RJ45 jack being electrically disconnected from the Ethernet switching unit, whereby the 10/100Base-T Ethernet signal associated with the Ethernet switching unit and the 10/100Base-T Ethernet signal associated with the second RJ45 jack are delivered on a shared LAN cable connected to the first RJ45 jack.