Multiple-channel token ring network with single optical fiber utilizing subcarrier multiplexing with a dedicated control channel
US5418785A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 23, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/433
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for and method of communicating over a local area network is disclosed. Multiple nodes are connected by an optical fiber in a ring architecture. The cable supports multiple subcarrier multiplexed data communication channels for transmitting and receiving message data between the nodes and a control channel for partitioning nodal access to the individual data channels. Tokens are circulated on the control channel indicating the status of each data channel. A node desiring to send, acquires an open data channel by marking the corresponding control channel token to show that the selected data channel is no longer available, inserts the node destination address into the control channel token, and transmits data on the acquired data channel. A node recognizing its address in the control channel token's destination address field for a particular data channel tunes its receiver to accept data on that channel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.