Multi-channel ring architecture for distributed networks
US4947389A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J14/0227
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a high speed, multihop, Local Area Network (LAN) comprising a communications medium for supporting a plurality of channels therealong and a plurality of Network Interface Units (NIUs) disposed along the medium in a predetermined sequence. Each channel of the communications medium comprises one or more point-to-point communication links, and each NIU is arranged to transmit to, or receive from, at least two other NIUs using point-to-point links from a separate subset of the multiple channels. Several of the NIUs are also arranged to transmit to, or receive from, additional NIUs on the network using (i) point-to-point links from a separate subset of the channels and, (ii) a non-linear connection pattern. Each channel can be used to establish point-to-point links between several pairs of NIUs in nonoverlapping sections of the sequence of NIUs. Communications between two NIUs is accomplished either directly, by a point-to-point link interconnecting the two NIUs, or by hopping the packet through a small number of intermediate NIUS.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.