Auto-Negotiation Mechanism Preventing Infinite Ethernet Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network connection methods face challenges in efficiently establishing stable links between Ethernet physical layers supporting different data rates and Energy Efficiency Ethernet (EEE) standards, often resulting in infinite auto-negotiation loops due to compatibility issues and inability to determine whether the far-end device supports EEE mode.
Innovation Solution
A network apparatus with an auto-negotiation mechanism that transmits indication signals to determine connection modes, counts the number of times it enters a transmit disable state, and disables unsupported connection modes when a threshold is reached to prevent infinite loops and ensure compatibility with devices not supporting EEE mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If auto-negotiation is performed to confirm the highest data rate supported by Ethernet physical layers, then link establishment speed is improved, but compatibility issues with EEE mode cause infinite negotiation loops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the local device transmit indication signals before full negotiation to announce EEE mode support capability. This preliminary announcement allows the remote device to understand the local device's EEE capability without requiring a complex back-and-forth negotiation, thereby preventing infinite loops while maintaining compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the local device count the number of times it enters transmit disable state during auto-negotiation. When this count reaches a threshold, the device feeds back by disabling EEE mode and attempting negotiation again at lower data rates, thereby resolving the infinite loop issue while maintaining the ability to establish high-speed links when compatible.
2Use of energy by moving object
If EEE mode is supported for energy efficiency, then power consumption is reduced, but compatibility with older devices not supporting EEE is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the EEE mode support configurable rather than fixed. The device can dynamically adjust its EEE support status based on the remote device's capability, allowing it to operate in EEE mode when the remote device supports it (for energy efficiency) and fall back to legacy modes when the remote device does not support EEE (for compatibility).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by monitoring the auto-negotiation process and changing the operational mode parameter based on observed behavior. When the device detects EEE mode operation, it counts transmit disable occurrences and may change the mode parameter to disable EEE if the count exceeds the threshold, thereby adapting to compatibility requirements while maintaining energy efficiency when possible.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connection modes are supported for downward compatibility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies taking out by extracting the EEE mode indication function from the complex auto-negotiation process. Instead of having the entire negotiation mechanism handle EEE compatibility, the patent extracts the EEE indication capability as a separate, simpler function that is transmitted before full negotiation, thereby reducing the complexity of the overall negotiation mechanism while maintaining multiple connection mode support.
Data Source
AI summary
A network connection method with an auto-negotiation mechanism is applied to a first network apparatus, where the first network apparatus supports a plurality of connection modes, and the method includes: transmitting a plurality of indication signals to a second network apparatus to prepare to establish a link between the first network apparatus and the second network apparatus, where the plurality of indication signals correspond to the plurality of connection modes respectively; counting a number of times that the first network apparatus enters a transmit disable state to generate a counting value; and when the counting value reaches a threshold value, disabling a specific connection mode of the plurality of connection modes supported by the first network apparatus.