Local area network

摘要

A local area network having multiplexing means for establishing out-of-band channels along with corresponding Ethernet channels over shared transmission media of twisted pair cables. The out-of-band channels are configured for implementing a separate packet switching system for operating a dedicated network application such as IP telephony communications; power sourcing equipment (PSE) may be further provided for supplying inline power over the twisted pair cables; and means for network access control and device location tracking may be further implemented for the separate packet switching system.

主权项

1. A network apparatus for transferring out-of-band data with Gigabit Ethernet data over an established communication link, comprising:
a multiplexing circuit, the multiplexing circuit having a first arrangement for receiving the out-of-band data; a second arrangement for receiving the Gigabit Ethernet data, the out-of-band data and the Gigabit Ethernet data being applied externally to the network apparatus; and a data scrambler, the data scrambler scrambling the Gigabit Ethernet data during a data transmission period of the established communication link, the data scrambler being configured to generate a sequence of scrambled data values during an inter-frame period of the established communication link, each scrambled data value in the sequence of scrambled data being mapped to an idle symbol selected from a plurality of idle symbols based on the out-of-band data and based on status/control signals internally generated within the network apparatus, wherein the out-of-band data is transferred during the inter-frame period of the established communication link without generating any non-idle signals.