Packet merging hub system for sequentially merging received data in a network hub into data packets before broadcasting to a plurality of destination computers
US6076117A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/44
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer network includes a network hub which connects a plurality of computers together. Data packets generated by the computers are sequentially merged into a stream of data packets which is then broadcast to all of the computers in the network. The network hub includes a plurality of ports, each of which is connected to a respective one of the computers, receiving data packets generated by the computer. The network hub also includes a plurality of storage devices respectively connected to the ports. Each of the storage devices receives and temporarily stores the data packets received by the port. A merging processor is connected to each of the storage devices and sequentially merges data packets temporarily stored by the storage devices into a stream of data packets. The stream of data packets is then broadcast to each of the computers in the network. The network hub may communicate with each of the computers to indicate the capacity status of the storage device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.