Importance

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Abstract

A novel hub-network adapter device has a substrate that supports (1) a network interface circuit and (2) a repeater circuit, both of which are directly connected to each other by a number of electrical conductors also supported by the substrate. The network interface circuit includes (1) a network port that is directly connected to a repeater port of the repeater circuit and (2) a number of bus terminals that are coupled to a bus of a file server personal computer. In addition to the directly connected repeater port, the repeater circuit includes a number of repeater ports that are connected to hub's repeater port connectors also mounted on the substrate. The novel direct connection of a repeater port and a network port eliminates the cost of conventional parts, such as a transceiver or an ethernet cable. The novel single substrate eliminates the use of an extra expansion slot that can be necessary in a conventional file server PC to accommodate (1) a hub card and (2) a network interface card, that are distinct and separate from each other. In one embodiment, the hub-network adapter device has the form of a printed circuit board.

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First Claim