Computer network with a plurality of identically addressed devices
US6301623A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/0893
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer network, and preferably a network concentrator, with a bidirectional serial channel. A plurality of devices on the channel are identified by addresses. The devices are divided into device groups and a device in one group can have an address which is identical to a device in another group. A management processor communicates with the individual devices by digital signaling through an analog multiplexer. The management processor decides which device group to communicate with, and then either generates a selection signal, or sends a data packet to a device register to generate a selection signal which causes the analog multiplexer to connect the bidirectional serial channel of the management processor to the bidirectional serial channel of the proper device group.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.