Dual master implied token communication system
US5166678A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1990 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/417
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A pair of master units share a common communication link to communicate with one or more slave units. Each slave unit transmits a message only in response to a message from one of the master units. When an initial transmission request is received by a master unit, it monitors the communication link and only initiates transmission of a message when the link has been quiet for a link quiet time period. After completing a transmission of a message, the master unit waits a link grant time period before transmitting again to permit the other master unit an opportunity to transmit a message if it desires. Synchronization of the two master units, therefore, is achieved quickly and with minimum overhead.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.