Patent ID: 7185045

Claim:
A network switch for connecting an external Ethernet device to a computing device, wherein said network switch comprises: an apparatus comprising a first device port electrically connected to a first network port through a first independent circuit path and a second network port through a second independent circuit path, wherein said first device port is adapted to electrically connect said external Ethernet device to said first network port and said second network port; an Ethernet switch operatively coupled to said first network port through a first independent communication path and to said second network port through a second independent communication path, wherein said Ethernet switch couples said first network port and said second network port to said computing device; a central processing unit directly connected to said first network port and said second network port, wherein said central processing unit comprises; a first internet protocol (IP) address assigned to said central processing unit, said first IP address for communicating with said central processing unit from an external operator interface; polling means internal to said central processing unit, wherein said polling means is for testing an operational status of communication between said Ethernet switch and said external Ethernet device, wherein said testing comprises transmitting and receiving an echo message between said polling means and said external Ethernet device, and wherein said polling means produces a status result determined by the testing; a recording apparatus internal to said central processing unit, wherein said recording apparatus is for recording the status result; an input/output register in said central processing unit, wherein said input/output register includes a status bit; and a configuration table, said configuration table adapted to configure said central processing unit, said configuration table including a second IP address of said external Ethernet device; an I/O register number; and a number representing frequency of testing the operational status, said I/O register number corresponding to said least one input/output register which includes said status bit; apparatus for setting said status bit in response to the status result; and apparatus for communicating said setting of said status bit to an external device via a standard protocol.