Method and system for a configurable connnector for ethernet
View Patent ↗Aspects of a method and apparatus for a configurable connector for Ethernet are provided. In this regard, a configurable Ethernet connector residing in an Ethernet enabled communication device may couple the communication device to one or more twisted pairs and enable communication of Ethernet frames over the twisted pair(s). Conductors of each of the twisted pairs may make contact with adjacent pins of the configurable Ethernet connector. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernet connector may enable housing of more than 48 instances of the configurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector may provide mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to the configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of the configurable Ethernet connector. The information may indicate presence or absence of various components within and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector.
1. A method for networking, the method comprising:
in an Ethernet enabled communication device comprising a configurable Ethernet connector, communicating Ethernet frames via one or more twisted pairs communicatively coupled to said configurable Ethernet connector, wherein:
conductors of each of said one or more twisted pairs make contact with adjacent pins of said configurable Ethernet connector;
a size and shape of said configurable Ethernet connector enables housing of more than 48 instances of said configurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack; and
said configurable Ethernet connector provides mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to said configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of said configurable Ethernet connector.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said configuration information indicates presence or absence of various components within and/or on said configurable Ethernet connector.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said components comprise a memory device which stores a configuration and/or capabilities of said configurable Ethernet connector.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said components comprise an Ethernet physical layer transceiver (PHY).
5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said components comprise one or more circuits and/or processors that are operable to manage supply power sourced and/or sinked via said configurable Ethernet connector.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
said components comprise a solid-state switch that is configurable via one or more control signals; and
a configuration of said solid-state switch determines which pins of said Ethernet connector are coupled to which ports of an Ethernet PHY.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said one or more control signals are generated by said Ethernet PHY.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said configuration information indicates whether said Ethernet device sources or sinks power.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said configuration information indicates which ones of said twisted pairs are to be utilized for communicating said Ethernet frames.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said configuration information indicates which ones of said twisted pairs are to be utilized for deliver of supply power.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said configurable Ethernet connector comprises:
one or more first interfaces that enable electrically coupling said configurable Ethernet connector to a cable assembly;
one or more second interfaces that enable electrically coupling said connector to a device that said configurable Ethernet connector is mounted within or on; and
one or more third interfaces that enable electrically coupling said connector to a corresponding one or more other configurable Ethernet connectors that are mounted on or within said device.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said configurable Ethernet connector supports one or more of 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T, 40GBASE-T, and 100GBASE-T.
13. A system for networking, the system comprising:
a configurable Ethernet connector residing in a Ethernet enabled communication device, wherein:
said communication device is operable to communicate Ethernet frames via one or more twisted pairs communicatively coupled to said configurable Ethernet connector;
conductors of each of said one or more twisted pairs make contact with adjacent pins of said configurable Ethernet connector;
a size and shape of said configurable Ethernet connector enables housing of more than 48 instances of said configurable Ethernet connector in a standard-size one-rack-unit face-plate of a 19-inch rack; and
said configurable Ethernet connector provides mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to said configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of said configurable Ethernet connector.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said configuration information indicates presence or absence of various components within and/or on said configurable Ethernet connector.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said components comprise a memory device which stores a configuration and/or capabilities of said configurable Ethernet connector.
16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said components comprise an Ethernet physical layer transceiver (PHY).
17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said components comprise one or more circuits and/or processors that are operable to manage supply power sourced and/or sinked via said configurable Ethernet connector.
18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein:
said components comprise a solid-state switch that is configurable via one or more control signals; and
a configuration of said solid-state switch determines which pins of said Ethernet connector are coupled to which terminals of an Ethernet PHY.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said one or more control signals are generated by said Ethernet PHY.
20. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said configuration information indicates whether said Ethernet device sources or sinks power.
21. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said configuration information indicates which ones of said twisted pairs are to be utilized for communicating said Ethernet frames.
22. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said configuration information indicates which ones of said twisted pairs are to be utilized for deliver of supply power.
23. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said configurable Ethernet connector comprises:
one or more first interfaces that enable electrically coupling said configurable Ethernet connector to a cable assembly;
one or more second interfaces that enable electrically coupling said connector to a device that said configurable Ethernet connector is mounted within or on; and
one or more third interfaces that enable electrically coupling said connector to a corresponding one or more other configurable Ethernet connectors that are mounted on or within said device.
24. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said configurable Ethernet connector supports one or more of 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T, 40GBASE-T, and 100GBASE-T.