A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING DATA PATHS WITHIN A NETWORK STATION

A modular system for configuring and reconfiguring the data paths within a local area network station permits the network station to be configured in various operational modes including a through mode, a wrap mode, and a concentrator mode. A module includes a media access controller MAC and an encoder/decoder ENDEC connected together by a bus. Certain signals from the bus are selected by a multiplexer. External signals for example, from another module are inputted to the bus through a latch. The multiplexer and the data paths through the MAC and ENDEC are controlled to configure the station in one of the operational modes. A second module similar to the first module is used to provide a station for a dual-ring local area network conforming to the FDDI standard.