Determining the number of active nudes on an ethernet network by counting a number of packet receptions
US5838688A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/413
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Delay times are modified in Ethernet network devices by adding an integer multiple of a delay interval to the minimum interpacket gap (IPG) interval, and decrementing a deferral counter storing the integer in each network station in response to detected activity on the media. Each station independently determines the number of stations active on the network media by counting the number of successful packet receptions following a corresponding detected collision. Once the number of detected collisions equals the number of stations (N) minus one, each station independently establishes a unique integer value from the range of zero to the number of detected collisions, i.e., up to the number of stations (N) minus one, by resetting the deferral counter to (N-1) after a successful transmission, and by decrementing the deferral counter upon detection of a successful transmission without collision by another station. The unique integer value ensures that each station has a different delay interval in accessing the media after sensing deassertion of the receive carrier. Each network station also includes a deferral timer that counts the maximum delay interval of (N-1) delay intervals plus t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.