Communication node with a first bus configuration for arbitration and a second bus configuration for data transfer
US5579486A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 14, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/325
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A node for a communication system that has a plurality of nodes, each of which may be coupled to a local host. The nodes are coupled between themselves in a tree topology by a plurality of point-to-point links. The interconnected nodes provide a first bus configuration for arbitration like a single bus. Following arbitration, the interconnected nodes provide a second configuration for high speed unidirectional data transfer without the bandwidth limitations of a single bus. Each node includes an arbiter, a data bus, a plurality of ports, a first multiplexer to select either the arbiter or the data bus, and a second multiplexer to select either the arbiter or the data bus. The data bus includes a transmit bus and a receive bus that are coupled with a repeater circuit that can resynchronize the data. During arbitration, the multiplexers select the arbiter to provide the function of a single bus for all the nodes. During data transfer, the multiplexers are configured for transmission of data. Furthermore, a node can function as a repeater and resynchronizer even if it is not connected to a local host or if the local host is turned off or otherwise nonoperational.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.