Patent · US Expired

Data flow control arrangement for local area network

US4787082A · kind A · utility

107Cited by
5References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 1986
Grant dateNov 22, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L12/46
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a local data distribution network configuration a plurality of bidirectional data distribution busses are each connected to a bus master control circuit at a terminal end of the bus. Connected to each of the data distribution busses are a plurality of passive outlets to which intelligent connectors or stations may be connected. Each station has a unique address and is utilized for individually coupling data processing devices to the bus. Grouped pluralities of the bus master control circuits are included within a bus termination hub facility. Data from any of the bus master control circuits may be transferred by the bus termination hub via a data trunk as part of a star type configuration, to a central switching circuit such as a virtual circuit switch. Direction of data flow on each of the bidirectional busses and periodic temporary synchronization of the stations is controlled in response to signals transmitted to the bus by the bus master control circuitry associated with that bus. A bus termination hub switching facility cooperates with the included group of bus master control circuits to interconnect data processing stations on the various busses with the virtual circuit sw…

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