Communications systems
US5008663A · kind A · utility
16Cited by
15References
16Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1987 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/43
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communications network comprises a plurality of stations which can communicate via a ring. Information is transmitted from one station to another in message blocks which circulate around the ring. The message blocks include control bits and a protocol is employed which ensures that no one station can monopolize the available message blocks. At any of the stations, an emptying block is utilized by that station as a reallocation trial slot and places its own address therein for passage round the ring. On its return a system reset is instigated to allow all stations to be reallocated blocks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.