Patent · US Expired

Digital bus communications system

US4161786A · kind A · utility

125Cited by
7References
46Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1978
Grant dateJul 17, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L12/417
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A time division multiple access communications system includes a plurality of terminals coupled to a common signal path, or bus. In one form of the invention, time slots are allocated on a relatively static basis to various requesting terminals to establish communication links over the bus. Control of bus access and communication link formation is distributed over the entire system, wherein at least one terminal having the slot allocation capability may address selected other terminals and allocate the capability among those other terminals. In a second form, subscriber terminals contend for access to the bus. In a third form, a dual mode communication system is provided incorporating both the allocation and contention modes of operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.