Patent · US Expired

Combination brouter and cluster controller

US5452291A · kind A · utility

166Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1993
Grant dateSep 19, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S370/911
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for transmitting data from a first device to a second device is provided. The invention is suitable for use in a system having first and second communications media. The apparatus includes a network interface coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device. A clustering facility is provided for coupling the first device directly to the network interface and for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface. The network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to either the clustering facility or the second medium. The apparatus transmits the data from the network interface to the second device by way of the clustering facility, if the network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering facility. The apparatus routes the data from the network interface to the second device by way of the second medium if the network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to the second medium. In the exemplary embodiment, both media follow the Consumer Electronics Bus (CEBus) standard. For example, the first medium may be a wired coaxial cable medium, and the first device may…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.