Communications network having bit-mapped refresh cycle
US4718061A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/43
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A network for carrying real-time (RTS) and data services comprises stations (12) on a ring (11). Frames on the ring have a fixed boundary (15) between a real-time portion of the frame and a data portion. A sequence of cycles is initiated by a priority station. During a refresh cycle a bit map on the ring is marked by each station in turn to indicate which slots in the real-time portions are occupied. Next the stations bid for slots needed for new calls. During a third cycle information transfer for RTS calls takes place. After these cycles, priority is passed to the next station. The data portion may use a slotted ring or token ring data control protocol, and data transfer proceeds during RTS cycles. In an alternative version the boundary (15') may be relocated periodically depending on the level of real-time traffic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.