Partitioned point-to-point communications networks
US5701120A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 23, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13342
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Partitioned point-to-point communications networks and configured to include a plurality of overlapping network portions, from "fully connected" point-to-point communications networks that are being expanded (to include additional sites), reconfigured and/or which are being upgraded (or otherwise modified) to support new and possibly incompatible communications protocols. The partitioning facilitates adding sites to a fully connected network, particularly where a predetermined maximum network size is reached, without having to redesign the network. In addition, modifying communication protocols used in such a network (for example, when upgrading a portion of the network to support a new feature), without having to change protocols for all sites at once is facilitated. Further embodiments comprise (a) processes which allow fully connected point-to-point communications networks to grow without requiring that every site in the network maintain information concerning every other network site, and (b) partitioned point-to-point communications networks which are products of any of these processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.