User to network interface protocol for packet communications networks
US4922486A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1988 |
| Grant date | May 1, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/357
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A high capacity metropolitan area network (MAN) is described. Data traffic from users is connected to data concentrators at the edge of the network, and is transmitted over fiber optic data links to a hub where the data is switched. The hub includes a plurality of data switching modules, each having a control means, and each connected to a distributed control space division switch. Advantageously, the data switching modules, whose inputs are connected to the concentrators, perform all checking and routing functions, while the 1024.times.1024 maaximum size space division switch, whose outputs are connected to the concentrators, provides a large fan-out distribution network for reaching many concentrators from each data switching module. Distributed control of the space division switch permits several million connection and disconnection actions to be performed each second, while the pipelined and parallel operation within the control means permits each of the 256 switching modules to process at least 50,000 transactions per second. The data switching modules chain groups of incoming packets destined for a common outlet of the space division switch so that only one connection in that…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.