Method and System for a Plurality of Physical Layers for Network Connection

Abstract

Methods and systems for a plurality of physical layers for network connection may include coupling a MAC to one of a plurality of PHYs. The coupling to a specific PHY may be based on auto-detection of network activity, or network devices, via the PHYs. Also, one of the PHYs may be coupled to the MAC as a power-up default. The PHYs may be coupled to a same network, by, for example, cables. A first cable to a first PHY may couple it to a first network switch and a second cable to a second PHY may couple it to a second network switch. The first network switch may be rated to handle, for example, a greater data rate than the second network switch. The first cable may not be able to be used as a cable for the second PHY, and vice versa.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system comprising a network adapter, which may be utilized in connection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary physical layer device and media access controller, which may be utilized in connection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary computer system with PHY-MAC devices that may each communicate with a network switch, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary PHY-MAC device that may communicate with a plurality of switches, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary PHY-MAC device comprising a single MAC and multiple PHY, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 c is a block diagram illustrating exemplary auto-detection of network activity and switching between multiple PHY or sub-PHY devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 d is an exemplary graph of network energy detected versus time, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 e is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary PHY-MAC device comprising a single MAC coupled to external PHY module comprising a plurality of PHY devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 a is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary routine for implementing a plurality of physical layers for network connection, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 b is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary routine for implementing a plurality of physical layers for network connection, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary network interfaces, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary peer devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing to a network, the method comprising communicating via at least one of a plurality of physical layer devices that are communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of media access controllers based on said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices auto-detecting signal presence.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said signal presence comprises at least one or more of the following: network activity or lack of network activity at said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, presence of a network device that may communicate with said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, and peer device presence.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network device is a network switch.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising switching among said plurality of physical layer devices for said communicating.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising processing network data received from one of said plurality of physical layer devices via said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers based on said auto-detection.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first of said plurality of physical layer devices and a second of said plurality of physical layer devices are communicatively coupled to a similar network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first of said plurality of physical layer devices is communicatively coupled to a first network switch via a first network connection and second of said plurality of physical layer devices is communicatively coupled to a second network switch via a second network connection.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a data rate of said first network switch is greater than a data rate of said second network switch.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising switching said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers to operate with said first of said plurality of physical layer devices if said auto-detection of said network activity is via said first of said plurality of physical layer devices.

10. The method according to claim 8, comprising switching said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers to operate with said second of said plurality of physical layer devices if said auto-detection of said network activity occurs only via said second of said plurality of physical layer devices.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said first of said plurality of physical layer devices and said second of said plurality of physical layer devices have different physical medium interfaces.

12. The method according to claim 7, comprising switching said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers to said first of said plurality of physical layer devices as a default during power-up.

13. The method according to claim 7, comprising switching said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers to said second of said plurality of physical layer devices as a default during power-up.

14. A method for interfacing to a network, the method comprising aggregating a plurality of channels as a communication link to a peer device, based on auto-detection of signal presence at each said plurality of channels aggregated.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising supporting said communication link as a logical link by a media access controller.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said channel is a SerDes link.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said signal presence comprises at least one or more of the following: network activity or lack of network activity at said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, presence of a network device that may communicate with said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, and peer device presence.

18. A system for interfacing to a network, the system comprising circuitry that enables communicating via at least one of a plurality of physical layer devices that are communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of media access controllers said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices auto-detecting signal presence.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said signal presence comprises at least one or more of the following: network activity or lack of network activity at said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, presence of a network device that may communicate with said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, and peer device presence.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said network device is a network switch.

21. The system according to claim 18, comprising switching circuitry that enables switching among said plurality of physical layer devices for said communicating.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers enables processing of network data received from one of said plurality of physical layer devices based on said auto-detecting.

23. The system according to claim 18, wherein a first of said plurality of physical layer devices and a second of said plurality of physical layer devices are communicatively coupled to a similar network.

24. The system according to claim 18, wherein said first of said plurality of physical layer devices is communicatively coupled to a first network switch via a first network connection and said second of said plurality of physical layer devices is communicatively coupled to a second network switch via a second network connection.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein a data rate of said first network switch is greater than a data rate of said second network switch.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said switching circuitry enables operation of said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers with said first of said plurality of physical layer devices if said auto-detection of said network activity is via said first of said plurality of physical layer devices.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein said switching circuitry enables operation of said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers with said second of said plurality of physical layer devices if said auto-detection of said network activity occurs only via said second of said plurality of physical layer devices.

28. The system according to claim 24, wherein said first of said plurality of physical layer devices and said second of said plurality of physical layer devices have different physical medium interfaces.

29. The system according to claim 24, wherein said switching circuitry enables operation of said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers with said first of said plurality of physical layer devices as a default during power-up.

30. The system according to claim 24, wherein said switching circuitry enables operation of said at least one of a plurality of media access controllers with said second of said plurality of physical layer devices as a default during power-up.

31. A system for interfacing to a network, the system comprising circuitry that enables aggregation of a plurality of channels for communication between peer devices based on auto-detection of signal presence at each of said plurality of channels aggregated.

32. The system according to claim 31, comprising a media access controller that enables support of said communication link as a logical link.

33. The system according to claim 31, wherein said channel is a SerDes link.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein said signal presence comprises at least one or more of the following: network activity or lack of network activity at said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, presence of a network device that may communicate with said at least one of said plurality of physical layer devices, and peer device presence.