Method and apparatus for border node behavior on a full-duplex bus

1. In a full-duplex communications system having plurality of nodes, wherein one of the nodes is compliant with IEEE P1394b high-speed serial bus standard and receives a Self-ID packet from a high-speed serial bus connecting the plurality of node, a method for determining and communicating the existence of a hybrid bus comprising the acts of:

examining received Self-ID packets by IEEE the P1394b compliant node for the absence of a Speed Code; and

determining the existence of a hybrid bus if any of said received Self-ID packets do not contain a Speed Code.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving node retains determination of the existence of a hybrid bus until a bus reset occurs.

3. A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a computer, determine and communicate the existence of a hybrid bus in a full-duplex communications system having plurality of nodes, wherein one of the nodes is compliant with the P1394b standard and receives a Self-ID packet from the bus, by performing the acts of:

examining received Self-ID packets by the P1394b compliant node for the absence of a Speed Code; and

determining the existence of a hybrid bus if any of said received Self-ID packets do not contain a Speed Code.

4. A device containing instructions which, when executed by a computer, determine and communicate the existence of a hybrid bus in a full-duplex communications system having plurality of nodes, wherein one of the nodes is compliant with the P1394b standard and receives a Self-ID packet from the bus, by performing the acts of:

examining received Self-ID packets by the P1394b compliant node for the absence of a Speed Code; and

determining the existence of a hybrid bus if any of said received Self-ID packets do not contain a Speed Code.