Method and system for monitoring status in a network having wireless and wired connections

This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/056,378, filed on Jan. 24, 2002, by Chen et al., entitled INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS LAN AND WIRED LAN ACTIVITY MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHODOLOGY, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

The disclosures herein relate in general to information handling systems and in particular to a method and system for monitoring status in a network having wireless and wired connections.

Information handling systems (e.g., portable computers) are frequently equipped with an integrated network controller, such as a local area network (“LAN”) on motherboard (“LOM”) network controller. With the LOM network controller, the information handling system readily connects (via a wired connection) to a wired network, so that a user is not compelled to install additional hardware. Also, wireless information handling systems are popular. To achieve wireless communication, information handling systems are frequently equipped with a radio frequency (“RF”) modem, which typically plugs into a mating connector of the information handling system.

Many users prefer to monitor a status of their network connections, whether it be wired or wireless. According to one conventional technique for monitoring a status of the wired connection, the system has a network connector (e.g., jack) that includes 2 LED indicators, namely (a) a first LED to monitor activity of the wired connection and (b) a second LED to monitor speed of the wired connection. For example, with at least one version of an RJ-45 connector, a first LED glows yellow to indicate activity on the wired connection, and a second LED glows a suitable one of 2 different colors to indicate different network speeds. In this example, when the second LED is green, it indicates a 10 Mbps wired connection, and when the second LED is amber, it indicates a 100 Mbps wired connection.

According to one conventional technique for monitoring a status of the wireless connection (in addition to the wired connection), the system has additional indicators that are dedicated to monitoring the wireless connection's activity and speed. However, such a technique increases the system's overall cost, due to: (a) expenses associated with providing multiple versions of systems with different mechanical housings (e.g., a first mechanical housing having indicators for a system with a fixed network controller, and a second mechanical housing having additional indicators for a system with both the fixed network controller and a wireless modem); and (b) an overall increase in the system's parts count.

Accordingly, a need has arisen for a method and system for monitoring status in a network having wireless and wired connections, in which more status is indicated by a fixed number of indicators.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of an information handling system that includes a connector for receiving a removable wireless device, an indicator is shared between the wireless device and a fixed network controller. The indicator is for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the wireless device, and for indicating multiple non-zero communication speeds of the network controller.

It is a technical advantage of this embodiment that more status is indicated by a fixed number of indicators, which lowers the system's overall cost.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information handling system, according to an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of network status monitoring circuitry of the information handling system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of discrete logic of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information handling system 100 , according to the illustrative embodiment. An information handling system is, for example, an instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities primarily designed to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence or data for business, scientific, control or other purposes.

The particular information handling system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 is a portable computer system. However, the disclosed technology can be practiced on other systems as well, such as desktop, server, and both smaller and larger systems. Computer system 100 includes a processor 105 , which is operable at different clocking rates, such as 1.0 GHz, 1.13 GHz or 1.2 GHz.

An Intel Hub Architecture (“IHA”) chip 110 performs memory and I/O operations of system 100 . More particularly, IHA chip 110 includes a graphics and AGP memory controller hub (“GMCH”) 115 , which operates: (a) as a host controller that communicates with processor 105 ; (b) as a controller for main memory 120 ; and (c) as an interface to advanced graphics port (“AGP”) controller 125 , which is coupled as a communication interface between GMCH 115 and a display 130 . IHA chip 110 further includes an input/output (“I/O”) controller hub (“ICH”) 135 , which is coupled to GMCH 115 and performs numerous I/O operations. For example, ICH 135 is coupled through a system management bus (“SM Bus”) 140 to one or more SM Bus devices 145 .

A super I/O controller 170 is coupled as a communication interface between ICH 135 and I/O devices 175 , such as a keyboard and mouse. A firmware hub (“FWH”) 180 is coupled as a communication interface between ICH 135 and system BIOS 185 . Also, ICH 135 is coupled to a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) bus 195 and USB ports 200 . USB devices (e.g., printers, scanners, joysticks) are connectable to the USB ports 200 . Moreover, ICH 135 is coupled through an integrated drive electronics (“IDE”) bus 205 to IDE drives 210 .

ICH 135 is coupled through a peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”) bus 155 to a mini-PCI connector 225 ( FIG. 2 ). In the illustrative embodiment, a wireless device (e.g., RF modem mini-PCI wireless card) 160 is removably attachable to the mini-PCI connector 225 , and thereby selectively coupled to PCI bus 155 . For example, wireless device 160 is generally a plug-in card, which is physically accessed (e.g., inserted and removed) through an opening (which may be covered by a door or panel) in a mechanical housing of system 100 . In other embodiments, wireless device 160 is not generally user accessible within the mechanical housing of system 100 . When the wireless device 160 is coupled (e.g., via attachment to the mini-PCI connector 225 ) to PCI bus 155 , the wireless device 160 connects the system 100 to a wireless network.

In the illustrative embodiment, a LOM controller 165 is fixably attached by soldering to a motherboard of system 100 (e.g., a motherboard on which various other components of system 100 are located), within the mechanical housing of system 100 . Accordingly, LOM controller 165 is classified as being internally fixed within system 100 .

Moreover, LOM controller 165 is coupled to PCI bus 155 . Accordingly, when the LOM controller 165 is coupled (e.g., via a wired network cable) to a wired network, the LOM controller 165 connects the system 100 to the wired network.

Both wireless device 160 (if installed or “present” in system 100 , such as by coupling to PCI bus 155 ) and LOM controller 165 are coupled to LOM-wireless status processing logic 215 . Processing logic 215 is coupled to a wire LAN connector 220 , which has status indicators. The operations of processing logic 215 and LAN connector 220 are discussed in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of network monitoring circuitry of system 100 . The mini-PCI connector 225 is fixably attached to the motherboard of system 100 . Wireless device 160 is attachable to mini-PCI connector 225 by being insertable (or “pluggable”) into mini-PCI connector 225 , as shown in FIG. 2 .

When so inserted, the wireless device 160 is “present” or “installed” in system 100 . According to the user's preference, system 100 either has or does not have wireless device 160 pre-installed within the mechanical housing of system 100 . Wireless device 160 is selected from among a wide variety of RF modems, such as a card meeting IEEE spec. 802.11.

Status processing logic 215 processes information from both wireless device 160 and LOM controller 165 , so that both the wireless device 160 and LOM controller 165 share the same status indicators in LAN connector 220 . LAN connector 220 includes an activity indicator 230 . In one embodiment, activity indicator 230 is a light emitting diode (“LED”) that selectively glows yellow to indicate “activity,” and such yellow light is visible to the user through a light pipe 230 A opening in the mechanical housing of system 100 .

Also, LAN connector 220 includes a “link rate” indicator 235 , which is a tri-color indicator. In one embodiment, link rate indicator 235 includes multiple LEDs 250 . For example, in FIG. 2 , LEDs 250 include both a GREEN indicator (e.g., green LED) and an AMBER indicator (e.g., amber LED), which share a common lens, and their light is visible to the user through a light pipe 235 A. If only the GREEN indicator is illuminated, the resulting color of link rate indicator 235 is green. If only the AMBER indicator is illuminated, the resulting color of link rate indicator 235 is amber. If both the GREEN indicator and AMBER indicator are illuminated, the resulting color of link rate indicator 235 is yellow.

When link rate indicator 235 is green, either wireless device 160 or LOM controller 165 is operating at a first non-zero link rate (e.g., either 2.4 GHz or 10 Mbps, respectively). By comparison, when link rate indicator 235 is amber, either wireless device 160 or LOM controller 165 is operating at a second non-zero link rate (e.g., either 5 GHz or 100 Mbps, respectively). Or, when link rate indicator 235 is yellow, either wireless device 160 or LOM controller 165 is operating at a third non-zero link rate (e.g., either higher than 5 GHz, or 1000 Mbps, respectively). For example, a first version of wireless device 160 operates at a link rate (or “transmission rate,” “transmission speed,” “communication rate” or “communication speed”) of 2.4 GHz. A second version of wireless device 160 operates at a link rate of 5 GHz. A third version of wireless device 160 operates at even higher link rates. Various connectors are suitable for use as LAN connector 220 , such as an RJ-45 connector.

To enable sharing of status indicators 230 and 235 by both wireless device 160 and LOM controller 165 , status processing logic 215 selectively outputs signals to LAN connector 220 , in response to signals from wireless device 160 and LOM controller 165 . Wireless connector 225 includes a WIRELESS_ACTIVITY output 225 A for selectively outputting a WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal. The WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal is “active low,” so that its “low” logic state (i.e., binary 0 value) indicates wireless activity by the wireless device 160 . Conversely, if the WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal has a “high” logic state (i.e., binary 1 value), wireless activity is absent. Accordingly, if the wireless device 160 is absent (e.g., removed or not inserted), system 100 pulls the WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal to a high logic state.

Similarly, LOM controller 165 includes a LOM_ACTIVITY output 165 A for selectively outputting a LOM_ACTIVITY signal. The LOM_ACTIVITY signal is also “active low,” so that its low logic state indicates LOM activity. Conversely, if the LOM_ACTIVITY signal is high (i.e., has a high logic state), LOM activity is absent.

In status processing logic 215 , a NAND gate 240 receives the WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal and the LOM_ACTIVITY signal and, in response thereto, selectively outputs a signal to activity indicator 230 . Accordingly, if either the WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal or the LOM_ACTIVITY signal is low (i.e., has a low logic state), then activity indicator 230 glows (or “is on” or “is illuminated”), thereby notifying the user that activity is present (or “is occurring”). The NAND gate 240 behaves according to the following truth table (TRUTH TABLE 1).

Wireless connector 225 includes: (a) a WIRELESS — 24G output 225 B for selectively outputting a WIRELESS — 24G signal; and (b) a WIRELESS — 5G output 225 C for selectively outputting a WIRELESS — 5G signal. The WIRELESS — 24G signal indicates whether the wireless device 160 (if installed and switched on) is operating at a link rate of 2.4 GHz. The WIRELESS — 5G signal indicates whether the wireless device 160 (if installed and switched on) is operating at a link rate of 5 GHz.

The WIRELESS — 24G signal is “active high,” so that its high logic state indicates that the wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate of 2.4 GHz. Likewise, the WIRELESS — 5G signal is active high, so that its high logic state indicates that the wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate of 5 GHz. In the illustrative embodiment, if both the WIRELESS — 24G and WIRELESS — 5G signals are high, the wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate higher than 5 GHz. If the wireless device 160 is absent, system 100 pulls the WIRELESS — 24G and WIRELESS — 5G signals to a low logic state. Accordingly, if the WIRELESS — 24G and WIRELESS — 5G signals are both low, then wireless device 160 is either absent or switched off. In status processing logic 215 , discrete status processing logic (“discrete logic”) 245 receives the WIRELESS — 24G and WIRELESS — 5G signals and, in response thereto, selectively outputs signals (through outputs 245 A and 245 B) to link rate indicator 235 .

LOM controller 165 includes: (a) a LOM — 10 MBIT output 165 B for selectively outputting a LOM — 10 MBIT signal; (b) a LOM — 100 MBIT output 165 C for selectively outputting a LOM — 100 MBIT signal; and (c) a LOM — 1000 MBIT output 165 D for selectively outputting a LOM — 1000 MBIT signal. The LOM — 10 MBIT, LOM — 100 MBIT and LOM — 1000 MBIT signals are active low. Accordingly, if the LOM — 10 MBIT signal is low, LOM controller 165 is operating at 10 Mbps. Or, if the LOM — 100 MBIT signal is low, LOM controller 165 is operating at 100 Mbps. Or, if the LOM — 1000 MBIT signal is low, LOM controller 165 is operating at 1000 Mbps. In status processing logic 215 , discrete logic 245 receives the LOM — 10 MBIT, LOM — 100 MBIT and LOM — 1000 MBIT signals and, in response thereto, selectively outputs signals (through outputs 245 A and 245 B) to link rate indicator 235 .

Output 245 A is connected to the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 . Output 245 B is connected to the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 . The signals through outputs 245 A and 245 B are active low, and discrete logic 245 operates them according to the following truth table (TRUTH TABLE 2) to turn on either: (a) the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 , if only the signal of output 245 B is low, so that link rate indicator 235 glows green (thereby indicating either that wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate of 2.4 GHz or that LOM controller 165 is operating at a link rate of 10 Mbps); or (b) the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 , if only the signal of output 245 A is low, so that link rate indicator 235 glows amber (thereby indicating either that wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate of 5 GHz or that LOM controller 165 is operating at a link rate of 100 Mbps); or (c) both the GREEN and AMBER indicators of LEDs 250 , if both the signals of outputs 245 A and 245 B are low, so that link rate indicator 235 glows yellow (thereby indicating either that wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate higher than 5 GHz or that LOM controller 165 is operating at a link rate of 1000 Mbps).

FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of discrete logic 245 . As shown in FIG. 3 , WIRELESS — 24G is coupled through a resistor 301 to the base of an NPN bipolar transistor 302 . WIRELESS — 5G is coupled through a resistor 303 to the base of an NPN bipolar transistor 304 . LOM — 10 MBIT is connected to an output of a zener diode pair 306 . LOM — 100 MBIT is connected to an output of a zener diode pair 308 . LOM — 1000 MBIT is connected to an output of a zener diode pair 310 .

A collector of transistor 302 is connected to output 245 B, and an emitter of transistor 302 is connected to a voltage reference node (e.g., having 0 voltage). A collector of transistor 304 is connected to output 245 A, and an emitter of transistor 304 is connected to the voltage reference node.

A first input of diode pair 308 is connected to the base of transistor 302 , and a second input of diode pair 308 is connected to output 245 A. A first input of diode pair 306 is connected to the base of transistor 304 , and a second input of diode pair 306 is connected to output 245 B. A first input of diode pair 310 is connected to output 245 A, and a second input of diode pair 310 is connected to output 245 B.

Accordingly, if the LOM — 10 MBIT signal is low, then: (a) the logic state of output 245 B is pulled low, so that current flows through the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 , and the link rate indicator 250 glows green, thereby indicating that LOM controller 165 is operating at a link rate of 10 Mbps; and (b) the logic state of the base of transistor 304 is pulled low, so that WIRELESS — 5G does not affect the logic states of outputs 245 A and 245 B, and so that current does not flow through the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 . In this situation: (a) a low logic state of the WIRELESS — 24G signal does not turn on transistor 302 and, accordingly, does not affect the logic states of outputs 245 A and 245 B; and (b) a high logic state of the WIRELESS — 24G signal turns on transistor 302 , which pulls the logic state of output 245 B low, consistent with the affect of the low LOM — 10 MBIT signal. In that manner, discrete logic 245 overrides the wireless device 160 sharing of LEDs 250 when the LOM controller 165 is connected to a wire LAN, so that access to the LEDs is provided to the LOM controller 165 instead of the wireless device 160 .

If the LOM — 100 MBIT signal is low, then: (a) the logic state of output 245 A is pulled low, so that current flows through the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 , and the link rate indicator 250 glows amber, thereby indicating that LOM controller 165 is operating at a link rate of 100 Mbps; and (b) the logic state of the base of transistor 302 is pulled low, so that WIRELESS — 24G does not affect the logic states of outputs 245 A and 245 B, and so that current does not flow through the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 . In this situation: (a) a low logic state of the WIRELESS — 5G signal does not turn on transistor 304 and, accordingly, does not affect the logic states of outputs 245 A and 245 B; and (b) a high logic state of the WIRELESS — 5G signal turns on transistor 304 , which pulls the logic state of output 245 A low, consistent with the affect of the low LOM — 10 MBIT signal. In that manner, discrete logic 245 overrides the wireless device 160 sharing of LEDs 250 when the LOM controller 165 is connected to a wire LAN, so that access to the LEDs is provided to the LOM controller 165 instead of the wireless device 160 .

If the LOM — 1000 MBIT signal is low, then: (a) the logic state of output 245 A is pulled low, so that current flows through the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 ; (b) the logic state of output 245 B is pulled low, so that current flows through the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 ; and (c) accordingly, the link rate indicator 250 glows yellow, thereby indicating that LOM controller 165 is operating at a link rate of 1000 Mbps. In this situation: (a) a low logic state of the WIRELESS_ 24 G signal does not turn on transistor 302 and, accordingly, does not affect the logic states of outputs 245 A and 245 B; and (b) a low logic state of the WIRELESS — 5G signal does not turn on transistor 304 and, accordingly, does not affect the logic states of outputs 245 A and 245 B. Also, in this situation: (a) a high logic state of the WIRELESS — 24G signal turns on transistor 302 , which pulls the logic state of output 245 B low, consistent with the affect of the low LOM — 1000 MBIT signal; and (b) a high logic state of the WIRELESS — 5G signal turns on transistor 304 , which pulls the logic state of output 245 A low, consistent with the affect of the low LOM — 1000 MBIT signal. In that manner, discrete logic 245 overrides the wireless device 160 sharing of LEDs 250 when the LOM controller 165 is connected to a wire LAN.

If the LOM — 10 MBIT, LOM — 100 MBIT and LOM — 1000 MBIT signals are high: (a) a low logic state of the WIRELESS — 24G signal does not turn on transistor 302 , so that current does not flow through the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 ; (b) a low logic state of the WIRELESS — 5G signal does not turn on transistor 304 , so that current does not flow through the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 ; (c) a high logic state of the WIRELESS — 24G signal turns on transistor 302 , which pulls the logic state of output 245 B low, so that current flows through the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 ; and (d) a high logic state of the WIRELESS — 5G signal turns on transistor 304 , which pulls the logic state of output 245 A low, so that current flows through the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 . In this situation: (a) if current flows through only the GREEN indicator of LEDs 250 , the link rate indicator 250 glows green, thereby indicating that the wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate of 2.4 GHz; (b) if current flows through only the AMBER indicator of LEDs 250 , the link rate indicator 250 glows amber, thereby indicating that the wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate of 5 GHz; and (c) if current flows through both the GREEN and AMBER indicators of LEDs 250 , the link rate indicator 250 glows yellow, thereby indicating that the wireless device 160 is operating at a link rate higher than 5 GHz.

In an example operation, if system 100 is operating in wireless mode (e.g., if wireless device 160 is installed and switched on), and if system 100 is not connected through LOM controller 165 to a wired network (e.g., via a wired network cable), then: (a) the LOM — 10 MBIT, LOM — 100 MBIT and LOM — 1000 MBIT signals are high; and (b) the WIRELESS — 24G signal and/or WIRELESS — 5G signal is/are high. In this situation, the LEDs 250 selectively glow either green, amber or yellow, according to whether the WIRELESS — 24G signal and/or WIRELESS — 5G signal is/are high, thereby indicating the link rate (and likewise indicating a working connection to the wireless network) to the user as discussed above. Also, in this situation, the activity indicator 230 selectively glows yellow, according to whether the WIRELESS_ACTIVITY signal is low, thereby indicating periods of activity to the user as discussed above.

In another example operation, if system 100 is not operating in wireless mode (e.g., if wireless device 160 is either switched off or not installed), and if system 100 is connected through LOM controller 165 to a network by a wired (or “wire” or “hard-wired”) network cable, then: (a) the WIRELESS — 24G and WIRELESS — 5G signals are low; and (b) one of the LOM — 10 MBIT, LOM — 100 MBIT and LOM — 1000 MBIT signals is low. In this situation, the LEDs 250 selectively glow either green, amber or yellow, according to whether the LOM — 10 MBIT signal, LOM — 100 MBIT signal or LOM — 1000 MBIT signal is low, thereby indicating the link rate (and likewise indicating a working connection to the wired network) to the user as discussed above. Also, in this situation, the activity indicator 230 selectively glows yellow, according to whether the LOM_ACTIVITY signal is low, thereby indicating periods of activity to the user as discussed above.

A principal advantage of these embodiments is the provision of technology for an information handling system to indicate status (e.g., activity and link rate) of LOM controllers and wireless devices, using a fixed number of indicators (e.g., a fixed number of LEDs) that is the same number as otherwise used for indicating status of the LOM controller alone. This technology has been described with reference to an information handling system such as a portable computer, but the disclosed technology likewise applies to other types of information handling systems (e.g., computer systems) that are processor dependent, including electrical devices such as personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), cellular and other telephone devices, satellite receivers, home entertainment systems, electronic gaming equipment, configurable automotive electronic devices, similar devices, and combinations thereof.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features.