David A Gagne

US Patent:

20070110026, May 17, 2007

Filed:

Nov 14, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/274376

Inventors:

Amit Sinha - Marlborough MA, US
David Gagne - Newburyport MA, US

International Classification:

H04L 12/28

US Classification:

370351000

Abstract:

A system for providing power and data to at least two Ethernet devices over a common Ethernet cable includes a combiner circuit and a splitter circuit. The combiner circuit receives first and second Ethernet cables and is configured to route power and data signals communicated over the first and second Ethernet cables over a common cable. The splitter circuit is configured to receive the common cable and route the power and data signals routed over the common cable over third and fourth Ethernet cables.

US Patent:

53902998, Feb 14, 1995

Filed:

Dec 27, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/814998

Inventors:

Satish L. Rege - Groton MA
Kadangode K. Ramakrishnan - Maynard MA
David A. Gagne - Goffstown NH

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G06F 1342
G06F 1200

US Classification:

395250

Abstract:

In a network adapter for a host computer, the data occupancy level of a buffer memory used to store network packets is monitored, and the occupancy level is reported to the host. The buffer memory is organized as a plurality of fixed-size pages. A memory controller uses an allocation counter to track the number of pages available to store incoming data packets, and the value of the allocation counter is compared with a programmable threshold. A data word accompanies each packet delivered to the host to indicate whether the allocation count exceeds the threshold. When the buffer memory has insufficient free space to store an incoming packet, the packet is discarded. The network adapter keeps a count of the number of discarded packets. An adapter manager microprocessor, which is part of the network adapter, reports the count to the host computer on request. The adapter manager also reports the value of the allocation count and other important network adapter variables to the host computer.