US Patent 7817661 Dual-media network interface that automatically disables inactive media

A dual-media network interface includes a physical layer device. A first interface module communicates with the physical layer device via a medium dependent interface. A link indicator indicates a communications link with the physical layer device via the first interface module. The physical layer device transmits a link indication signal to the link indicator and a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) interface module when the physical layer device establishes a communications link via the first interface module. The link indication signal activates the link indicator and disables the SFP interface module. The dual-media network interface is a single-port network interface and only one of the first interface module or the SFP interface module is active at a time. The first interface module is a copper media interface module. The SFP interface module is one of a copper media interface module or a fiber optic media interface module.