Abstract: A device implementing a dynamic local media access control (MAC) address assignment system may include at least one processor that is configured to initiate a link establishment with a network device. The at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether a previously assigned media access control (MAC) address is stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to transmit a message to the network device requesting validation of the previously assigned MAC address when stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to communicate using the previously assigned MAC address when the validation is received from the network device, otherwise communicating using a dynamically assigned MAC address received from the network device during the link establishment.

Abstract: A device implementing a dynamic local media access control (MAC) address assignment system may include at least one processor that is configured to initiate a link establishment with a network device. The at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether a previously assigned media access control (MAC) address is stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to transmit a message to the network device requesting validation of the previously assigned MAC address when stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to communicate using the previously assigned MAC address when the validation is received from the network device, otherwise communicating using a dynamically assigned MAC address received from the network device during the link establishment.

Abstract: A device implementing a dynamic local media access control (MAC) address assignment system may include at least one processor that is configured to initiate a link establishment with a network device. The at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether a previously assigned media access control (MAC) address is stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to transmit a message to the network device requesting validation of the previously assigned MAC address when stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to communicate using the previously assigned MAC address when the validation is received from the network device, otherwise communicating using a dynamically assigned MAC address received from the network device during the link establishment.

Abstract: A network device may implement a guard band for reducing latency of transmitting high priority data. The device may identify a scheduled communication time for high priority data, which may include a scheduled reception time of the high priority data by the network device or a scheduled communication time of the high priority data. The network device may initiate a guard band prior to the scheduled communication time, and even before the high priority data is received by the network device. When the guard band is active, the network device may prevent transmission of low priority data, which may include preempting an in-progress low priority packet when initiating the guard band. Upon receiving the high priority data, the network device may immediately transmit the high priority data without incurring additional latency for preempting a low priority packet.

Abstract: A device implementing a dynamic local media access control (MAC) address assignment system may include at least one processor that is configured to initiate a link establishment with a network device. The at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether a previously assigned media access control (MAC) address is stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to transmit a message to the network device requesting validation of the previously assigned MAC address when stored locally. The at least one processor may be further configured to communicate using the previously assigned MAC address when the validation is received from the network device, otherwise communicating using a dynamically assigned MAC address received from the network device during the link establishment.

Abstract: A device implementing a dynamic local media access control (MAC) address assignment system may include at least one processor circuit. The at least one processor circuit may be configured to transmit an address request packet including a proposed MAC address and a device identifier to devices on a network. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to determine whether any reply packets are received that indicate that another device has claimed the MAC address prior to expiration of a probe timer. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to transmit an address claim packet including the MAC address when the probe timer expires before any reply packets are received from other devices. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to communicate over the network using the proposed MAC address after transmitting the address claim packet.

Abstract: A transmitting device may implement a checksum for integrity verification for a message page during an auto-negotiation period. The checksum may provide redundancy to ensure the integrity of the message page after transmission. The checksum may be calculated based on the message page and appended to the message page for transmission. A receiving device may receive the message page with the appended checksum and calculate a checksum locally using the received message page. The calculated and received checksum may be compared by the receiving device to verify the integrity of the message.

Abstract: An industrial process environment uses selective power-over-network (PoN) techniques to facilitate configuration, operation, communication, and other operations for the industrial nodes in the environment. The network may be an Ethernet network, and the environment may selectively deliver power-over-Ethernet as well as command, configuration, or other data over the network connection. The environment may perform the techniques over other types of networks or combinations of networks in addition to or instead of Ethernet networks.

Abstract: A network device includes a communication interface and a transmitter coupled to the communication interface. The transmitter is configured to determine to start an auto-negotiation page with a link partner, and transmit, through the communication interface, a start delimiter for the auto-negotiation page. The transmitter transmits the start delimiter by transmitting a first pulse comprising a first encoding violation, followed by a second pulse comprising a second encoding violation. The transmitter may shorten the first pulse and the second pulse relative to a different pre-defined start delimiter to define spectral content for the first pulse and the second pulse that passes different first and second receiver filters in the link partner for different first and second communication standards.

Abstract: A device in an industrial environment may adapt communications to account for industrial noise in the industrial environment. The device may send a first communication to a destination device in the industrial environment using a first communication technology. The device may access noise prediction data for the industrial environment, and the noise prediction data may indicate predicted noise for one or more portions of the industrial environment, including a communication pathway to the destination device using the first communication technology. The device may adapt a subsequent communication to the destination device to account for the predicted noise along the communication pathway.

Abstract: Devices implement encapsulation to support link layer preemption. The device may include a encapsulation logic that encapsulates data, such as an Ethernet frame, to produce an encapsulated frame. The encapsulated frame may include an encapsulation element that indicates whether the encapsulated data includes non-preemptible data, such as Distinguished Minimum Latency Traffic (DMLT), or preemptible data. The encapsulated frame may also indicate whether the encapsulated data comprises the last fragment of a preemptible frame.

Abstract: A device for pre-emption in passive optical networks may include a first media access control (MAC) module configured to receive a first type of data traffic and transmit the first type of data traffic to a MAC merge module. The device may further include a second media access control (MAC) module configured to receive a second type of data traffic and transmit the second type of data traffic to the MAC merge module. The device may further include the MAC merge module configured to receive the first and second types of data traffic from the first and second MAC modules, respectively, and provide the first and second types of data traffic for transmission over a port. The MAC merge module may be configured to pre-empt the transmission of the first type of data traffic over the port in favor of the second type of data traffic.

Abstract: A temporary work group system may include one or more network devices and one or more working devices. The network device can allocate an access point in a network to provide network access to a temporary work group. Working devices may be selectively identified by the network device as being available for inclusion in the temporary work group based on a first predetermined criteria that includes proximity to the access point and authentication of each of the working devices. Selectively identified working devices can be associated with the temporary work group based on a second predetermined criteria that includes a respective relative location of the working devices and respective functionality of the working devices. The system may preempt working devices from association with the work group session until such devices meet both the first predetermined criteria and the second predetermined criteria.

Abstract: It may be determined via monitoring whether a first link partner and/or a second link partner coupled via an Ethernet link has trained or refreshed circuitry and/or has updated at least one parameter. Based on the determination, a corresponding link partner may be trained, refreshed and/or updated. One or more of an echo canceller, a far-end crosstalk canceller and a near-end crosstalk canceller for one or more channels may be configured based on the training, refreshing and/or updating. One or more channels may be silent and/or one or more may be active. Link partners may communicate via one or more of in-band signaling, out-of-band signaling to determine which link partner may monitor and/or which may control or initiate operation. The controlling link partner may be assigned a master mode of operation. Training, refreshing and/or updating for the monitoring link partner may be based on a timer.

Abstract: A device implementing a dynamic local media access control (MAC) address assignment system may include at least one processor circuit. The at least one processor circuit may be configured to transmit an address request packet including a proposed MAC address and a device identifier to devices on a network. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to determine whether any reply packets are received that indicate that another device has claimed the MAC address prior to expiration of a probe timer. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to transmit an address claim packet including the MAC address when the probe timer expires before any reply packets are received from other devices. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to communicate over the network using the proposed MAC address after transmitting the address claim packet.

Abstract: A transmitting device may implement a checksum for integrity verification for a message page during an auto-negotiation period. The checksum may provide redundancy to ensure the integrity of the message page after transmission. The checksum may be calculated based on the message page and appended to the message page for transmission. A receiving device may receive the message page with the appended checksum and calculate a checksum locally using the received message page. The calculated and received checksum may be compared by the receiving device to verify the integrity of the message.

Abstract: A network device includes a communication interface and a transmitter coupled to the communication interface. The transmitter is configured to determine to start an auto-negotiation page with a link partner, and transmit, through the communication interface, a start delimiter for the auto-negotiation page. The transmitter transmits the start delimiter by transmitting a first pulse comprising a first encoding violation, followed by a second pulse comprising a second encoding violation. The transmitter may shorten the first pulse and the second pulse relative to a different pre-defined start delimiter to define spectral content for the first pulse and the second pulse that passes different first and second receiver filters in the link partner for different first and second communication standards.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for Ethernet congestion management may include transmitting one or more data packets in a network flow from a source node to a destination node. The source node may be enabled to receive one or more congestion notification frames based on detecting congestion at one or more switches in the network flow. A probe packet comprising a departure timestamp, Ts, may be transmitted from the source node to the destination node based on receiving one or more congestion notification frames. The arrival rate, Ra, of one or more data packets at the destination node may be calculated based on an arrival timestamp, Ta, inserted into the probe packet at the destination node. A rate limiter at the source node may be enabled to limit a rate of one or more data packets based on the calculated arrival rate, Ra.

Abstract: A local manager in a local networking domain may configure a plurality of logical switches by combining switching functions available in network devices and/or network switches in the local networking domain. The configuration may utilize vertical and/or horizontal combinations of the switching functions. The switching functions may comprise network switch-based switching functions, and/or hypervisor-level switching functions and/or network adapter-level switching functions available in network devices which may be configured as virtualized platforms. The local manager may provide interfacing services to enable exposing configured logical switches. The interfacing services may comprise an internal interface, which may be utilized, via the local manager, to control the switching functions corresponding to logical switches and/or to route messages sent to and/or from the logical switches.

Abstract: An industrial process environment uses selective power-over-network (PoN) techniques to facilitate configuration, operation, communication, and other operations for the industrial nodes in the environment. The network may be an Ethernet network, and the environment may selectively deliver power-over-Ethernet as well as command, configuration, or other data over the network connection. The environment may perform the techniques over other types of networks or combinations of networks in addition to or instead of Ethernet networks.